Well this is easy, I don't have a cell phone. I walk Nebo alone in the dark quite often, though I usually do not go too far from the house. I wouldn't go for a walk without him. My mom and I walk the dogs at night all the time and we've never even thought of bringing her cell phone.

I don't know if Nebo would protect me, he's not a barker and afraid of most strangers but he looks like a vicious dog (so I've been told by many people ).