Man, that's rough to be tagged with the voices in WTG's head...

I’m really glad you’re ok. Really, that could have been really bad.

Around here, the dogs owner should be able to provide you with proof that the dog got a rabies shot. We had to produce one when our dog bit someone. Maybe you can get that?

Regarding the cop’s thought that you could have shot the dog had you been armed . . . Just, no. Unless you are going to walk your dog with a loaded weapon in easy reach, you’d never be able to retrieve it and use it while also holding a leash. And even if you are trained to use that firearm, hitting a dog running at you under stress while distracted by your dog is a serious challenge.

In a jurisdiction where I have a case, an officer shot at a pit bull that had bitten him and was coming back for more. The bullet missed the dog, ricocheted off the pavement and killed a teenager. Only in the movies do people fire accurately when under duress.

You did the best thing you could possibly have done: get your dog out of harms way and wait for help. Good job.