[alaskayorkie]

This sounds like a horrible situation that you shouldn't have to tolerate. Can't you report tonight's incident to the police? It sounds like the dog attacked YOU!

If police are out of the question now, I'd talk to the owner of the pitbull and tell him that you're not going to put up with it any longer. Either he keeps his dog leashed or you do whatever you can to get his dog taken away from him.

I would think you could start with a video camera and record the dog off leash. You might arrange to have a friend walk a small dog when the pit bull is off leash and video the pit bull approaching. Animal control or the cops would have to do something about it.

In the meantime, I don't have any great advice for fighting off a pit bull. Pepper spray might injure your dog, and if the wind's going the wrong way it could blind you. I wouldn't take any chances, though. If the pit bull's outside and unleashed, walk Bruce somewhere else. At the very least, pick him up and look for someplace you can set him if the dog looks like he's going to jump up on you.

Good luck. It sounds like a nightmare!