If you know anything about catbirds swooping down on people and dogs, please stop here

[Samantha]

6. I have been carrying an umbrella, one of those pop up things, with my hand on the button

so it will expand rapidly. My boyfriend laughed at this. I did also take a swipe at one of the birds when it was diving at me, and it curved away in flight. So this is a good alternative.

But I am so broken down after three days of dealing with this, I feel I can't take it anymore. I know I am a wimp, but there it is.

We are having a terrible heatwave here in DC, and I need to water my dogwood tree and flowers. I can't manage that, and they are drooping before my eyes.

I carry Cheyenne when I walk out and she doesn't understand. So far neither of the birds have gotten near her, as they have Scooter. Scooter's owner thinks this is funny when the bird goes after his dog, but personally I see no humor in the situation.

I just want someone to suggest something like a color I could wear or an offensive smell I could dose on my clothes they these birds would find naturally repellent. Don't know if anything like that exists.

Thanks for responding to my thread. I need all the advice I can get.

Sam