I have been pretty aggressive toward three dogs that come on my property because I have 2 cats and 2 pullets. The dogs, a Rottweiler, a pitbull and another mixed breed of middle size, do come on my property at night. There are game trails through the forest around my property where my fence does not extend. That's how they enter, I've seen them after dusk sometimes, though they don't do it while I'm around. They have killed one neighbor's cat already. (The victim's property is unfenced.)

I was walking down my road to visit a neighbor. I was carrying my cat PassePartout in a sturdy plastic carrier because they love him and his visits, and he likes to visit them and play with their cats.

Ahead I heard an absolute uproar of dogs barking. I continued. When I turned the corner I saw that the dogs of another neighbor, which are kept on her large fully-fenced property, were barking ferociously. Then I saw that the three dogs were on the road between myself and my destination, barking savagely at the fenced dogs, and very angry, and running back and forth in frustration because they couldn't get at the fenced dogs. I continued walking toward them.

Then they began barking at me. At this point PassePartout let out a terrible wail, and I saw that he was terrified and trying to get out of the cage (to climb a tree, I guess.)

But when the cat-killers heard that, they started toward me. I didn't dare turn away, in case that triggered their pursuit-instinct. It was then I realized that I was dealing with not three dogs, but a pack. They had become so aroused by the other dogs that they had become very aggressive.

I was afraid. So I started backing away, not looking directly at them. They began to run towards me.

What happened then was pure luck. The fenced dogs went absolutely nuts. They were rushing the fence and trying to get at the pack. This distracted the pack, and I turned and hurried (not running) and once I rounded the corner they didn't pursue me.

I took poor PassePartout home and put him in the house. Later when the barking noise died down I visited the neighbor, without PassePartout, in my truck.

I have a shotgun but the only shot I had was bird shot that I use for target practice and that would not stop a pit bull. I have since got buckshot, #1 had sold out so I had to take 2 sizes bigger, #00, unnecessarily large.

It's legal to shoot stray dogs in the regional district where I live. This is because they form packs and go after livestock and run the deer.

I hesitate to talk to the owners because they are already well aware that their dogs are a nuisance, but like most idiots they insist their dogs are not dangerous. Also they are it seems involved in illegal activities. Living alone as I do, I'm vulnerable to retaliation.

If I talk to the R.C.M.P. I'm running a risk too. A friend told me he suspects they have a tie-in with some dealers. He gave me semi-convincing evidence.

Here's my question. Is that pack behavior dangerous to a human?

Yes, it is. Pack behavior is instinctual, and much older than the dog-human relationship, much more hard-wired into their system. If you don't want to carry a shotgun around with you, get some bear spray or pepper spray. A can of spray deodorant also works, but not as well. (If you carry a lighter, the deodorant can also be used as a blowtorch; I've never tried using Mace, pepper spray, or bear spray in this manner, but assume that they'd work just as well.)

If you are concerned that the local police are dirty, try an anonymous letter to the local paper about the dogs.

Pack behaviour is a strong instinct.Even my little ones here act as a pack.They caught a deer this week, which I had to rescue.What was striking, and predictable, was that as soon as one had bitten the deer and drawn blood there was an absolute frenzy of an attack, all of them piling in, a 'blood frenzy'.

I had to rescue it because none of them could kill it; all they could do was inflict numerous injuries; had the wolfhound caught it, it would have been dead in seconds.As it was, it ran off once it was free.

That's the ultimate danger with a group of any dogs: if one triggers the instinct,by drawing blood, they smell it and attack in a mindless frenzy.One bite and they can all be on the attack.

Experienced humans are not in much danger.That's because we know how to avoid trouble and how to act if it starts.Toddlers are likely to be innocent victims, mainly because they unwittingly 'eyeball' a large dog, staring at it.The dog treats that as a threat and attacks, and any others join in.Other dogs can be in danger too.

Thank you, this justifies my instinctive fear response. I spoke to the neighbor who has the big fenced property and whose dogs distracted the three, to compliment her on her responsible attitude. She says the three run along the nearby beach, also, where she takes her leashed dogs for a run. The uncontrolled dogs are annoying and upsetting the beachfront residents, who are mostly retired people with less aggressive dogs.

Looks like it's our duty to have a meeting and make a plan. Because otherwise someone will be hurt, another beloved pet will be killed, or the three dogs will be shot. Which would be a shame, they are beautiful dogs, and if properly handled would not be a threat, I'm sure.

Mind you, I'm no expert. My only experience was with two border collies, Laddie and Bruce, when I was a farm girl, and they were lovely. Especially Laddie.