I was walking down my street going toward the bus stop on my way to work. As I am headed down the street a dog is outside of a house with no one with it and it is not on a leash. When I get closer and see the dog it stops and begins growling at me. After an initail reaction of surprise I precede to attempt to go to the other side of the sidewalk and the dog follows staying in my path leaving the property.

The owner then comes out of his garage and starts trying to get the dog back into the garage, but the dog wasn't willingly going. I told the gentleman that he should have that dog on a leash, this is the 2nd time it's come at me like that while I've been walking and it's ridiculous.

The guy basically pays me no attention at all and all the while the dog went back on to the owner's property and turned around started growling and showing it's teeth at me. I then told the guy if that dog comes at me I'm not afraid to kick it and defend myself. He then said to and I quote, "That'll be the last thing you ever do". I responded by telling him I was calling the police.

I had called after the 1st incident and they told me if it happened again to just call them again. So I called and they sent an animal control person out and after talking with him he procedes to tell me that there is no leash law in Pennsylvania and that I needed to re-read the law. He also told me he was going to speak to the owner, issue him a written warning and give him a confinement charge. Now after looking at some stuff on-line it says there is a leash law but doesn't mention the word leash.

I have some questions I would like answered:
1. Was I in the wrong in anyway I handled this?
2. I am now thinking about getting something like pepper spray to use if it happens again because this is like the 7th time overall (not all with the same dog) and want to is this an acceptable way of defending myself against something like this.
3. What exactly are the leash requirements in the state of Pennsylvania?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks very much in advance.