Question about CO2 airguns

I recently bought a spring air pistol that is too hard for my wife to operate, and am wondering how long a CO2 cartidge will hold pressure once installed in the gun. We need it to chase away stray dogs and other critters, and it is probable the gun will go unfired for days at a time. Comments or suggestions ??
ouch,please dont use it to injure animals.

way to give airgunners a bad name
 
What you want to shoo away stray dogs is a paintball gun. Those things hurt, but they don't do any lasting damage and they're made to shoot fast and loose. Paintball guns work on the spray and pray principle and in Florida CO2 works great. Check out craigslist or offer up, somebody will be selling their old gear. I'd recommend Tippman. They're built like a tank, not too expensive and a lot of paintballers want to get rid of them because they're not the latest and greatest.
 
I second what rsfrid said, and shooting stray dogs with airguns are not recommended. I would call animal control instead :)
Some of us do not live in areas with animal control. We live a couple of miles out of town in an older subdivision with 1-2 acre lots,and I don't consider dogs a problem other than piles they leave. We like to feed birds and cats are becoming a problem, also crawling up on car and truck. I told my wife if I see a cat killing a songbird, then the cat becomes a target.
 
I had a problem some years back with some neighborhood miscreants trying to break into my backyard and injure my dogs. A paintball gun solved that problem pretty quick. I will never shoot at a stray dog or cat or basically anything with a pellet or BB gun because it can be injured and made to suffer. A paintball gun though can sting like hell without causing more than a bruise. Even then, for me anyway, I won’t shoot anything unless it’s a physical threat.

Rick H.
 
A slingshot and a rubber superball. Nonlethal...no paint stains that may raise questions, and get brightly colored ones so there are easy to spot in the grass. A half dozen should keep you set for a long time.
Oh, great idea! Maybe even a soft ball that doesn't bounce away far. Play-dough balls stored in the refrigerator, ready to sling into action!
 
What you want to shoo away stray dogs is a paintball gun. Those things hurt, but they don't do any lasting damage and they're made to shoot fast and loose. Paintball guns work on the spray and pray principle and in Florida CO2 works great. Check out craigslist or offer up, somebody will be selling their old gear. I'd recommend Tippman. They're built like a tank, not too expensive and a lot of paintballers want to get rid of them because they're not the latest and greatest.
That's what I was going to suggest.
 
I picked up my Crossman Vigilante after a few months or more sitting on the shelf and it kicked as if no time had elapsed.

But I also know my other CO2 pistol a Daisy Powerline something BB gun would not do the same even with a loving application of that special oil you're supposed to use.

That said I would not trust a CO2 gun to hold air if you need to rely on it for that purpose. Always expect to put in a new CO2 cart. Best idea is to finish up your CO2 cart in a session and then pop a new one in without breaking the seal, so you can just twist/push/whatever when you're ready to shoot.

I do like the idea Doc C. had above.... a multi pump... for your special situation.

Now I am reading back and seeing this is for dog control. Use bear spray and save yourself a lawsuit or trouble with the cops. Pepper spray is more effective anyway.