More than 30 years ago in Marin I had to ride the brakes for a bobcat who was unable to escape my lazy descent. On the same downhill 10 seconds later I had to lay on the brakes for a huge buzzard. In Ann Arbor a rabbit took me out at night, he sped into my front wheel like he had been trained to attack. I went down really hard in an instant. Last month a farmer's cat almost did the same - he used up one of his lives, I'm sure I brushed his tail. Tons of dog encounters, years ago I carried Halt and had to use it a few times. I'm an animal lover, but I like mace for dogs, they really learn quick (medieval, I know, but pain is a great motivator) and usually leave all riders alone after just one dose. After about 1990-95 it seems to me the number of nasty dogs running loose has greatly declined.