Here is yet another story about a dog vs a porcupine.
Dog meets porcupine— and loses (again)
It's the veterinarian's (and dog's) worse nightmare — a Labrador retriever comes into the hospital at midnight with a face full of quills. He paws gently at his nose and shakes his head, but nothing helps. His muzzle is swollen and his eyes water with the pain, but he won't let his owner come near him because he knows that what comes next is even worse — the inevitable yanking of those darned spines from his sensitive skin. The Labrador has just met his match — Erethizon dorsatum, a.k.a. the North American porcupine.
Porcupines are members of the rodent family and are found throughout much of North America. They are nocturnal vegetarians, lumbering along the ground or climbing in trees in search of tasty leaves, twigs, bark, fruit, and nuts to eat. They are solitary by nature, except in the mating season, and prefer to live in wooded areas, although they are also found in deserts and grasslands. They nest in hollow logs, tree cavities, or earthen dens. Because porcupines move slowly and don't see well, their quills offer them an excellent measure of protection against predators.
Porcupines have 15,000 to 30,000 quills. These quills are modified hairs with hollow centers that are loosely secured within the skin. Like other hairs, these quills can be shed and regrown throughout life. Muscles attached to the quill base will pull the quills upright when the animal is frightened. The quills must be touched to be released; they cannot be "thrown" by the animal. When threatened, porcupines may use their tails to slap the attacker, releasing the quills into the assailant's muzzle, legs, and other regions of the body.
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