Active Self Protection

I just tried to use POM spray in a dog attack (I was walking my dogs). It was the larger MK3 bottle with 18-20' range. I had the bottle ready to go when this German shepherd was more than 100' away and charging - should have been plenty of time.

I activated when the dog was about 12 feet away, still charging at me. The spray was a thin, solid line and only went about 3 feet at first, and then was basically just falling out of the bottle. There was no spray effect.

This was a brand new bottle so I'm wondering what went wrong here. Did it have a slow leak? Settled/coagulated contents? Please help.

Update - got a response from POM. Waiting for more info - but I think I may have damaged this canister in cold weather. I keep it on me when I'm shoveling snow / snow blowing the driveway and yard, and its been out there in temps from -10 to 25F for about 12-20 hours this winter.

This is probably user error and probably not a defective product - I think these harsh temps may be to blame. Props to POM for a speedy, professional response despite my misuse.

1. I have the POM Mk3 ( 2 Oz ) and the spray does come out in a thin stream ... the distance was close to as advertised

2. I haven't specifically tested POM, but I've left other OC sprays outside in extreme cold temps, about -20⁰F (NOT including wind chill) for hours and they "fired" just fine. Let me put a POM 2 oz in my freezer tonight and I will test fire it tomorrow and report back.

3. I hope POM makes an even bigger spray than 2 Oz. A majority of my reason for OC spray carry is for animals, dogs, bears, wild cats ( I live in the woods of Central MN). I want as many ounces and reach as possible.

My freezer got down to 3⁰F . POM 2 oz was in there about 10 hours. Test fire; dribble.

That other spray I let cold soak, mentioned above, was a bear spray. So no they apparently are not all created equally.

This is instructive for me because I always leave a pepper spray in my vehicle as a spare, which can stay outdoors for days in MN cold weather. Mental note; POM won't work in those conditions. My question is now how many y freeze thaw cycles can a POM handle? Once my freezer POM thaws out I will test fire again and see how the POM recovers....like if I take my spare POM that sit frozen in my vehicle, put it on me to thaw....will it work as advertised again once warmed up or are there residual effects?

I'll put my bear sprays and my big old Fox labs spray in the freezer and test. Test fire that too and post.

I'm afraid to use the Fox labs now unless its life or death so to speak....I believe Chuck Haggard mentioned in a video Fox's formula was/is carcinogenic.

Update; my frozen 2 oz POM thawed out...test fired it, fired fine. Was a mix between thin stream and spray if that makes sense. Not quite the reach of a totally thin stream, but the spray and associated mist made it so anyone/any animal closing to within 10 feet was going to get a no doubt wet/slightly aerosolized cloud blessing of the hotsauce. You almost couldn't miss. Confidence booster.