crazy bum at the beach

I have been to the beach almost everyday this week. There has been absolutely nothing going on. Today, however, I took some kick butt pictures of some surfers catching some waves. It was pretty cool. It was such a beautiful day out. The other night was also a beautiful night. So I though I would take Zorro(my pomeranian) to the beach with me he needed to run. Well he had a blast but one of the bums that lives on the beach didn't find him amusing at all. He didn't do anything to her yet, she found it necessary to threaten and try to kick him. Of course I think of my animals as one of my children so I hollered at her. She told me "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to your dog." I wanted to laugh so hard at her but instead I hollered at her again. I told her that it didn't matter who she was talking to and that he was my dog. I am ashamed to say I then called her a crazy bitch. I feel bad for it but she threatened my dog. She continued to antaginize Zorro I tried slowing down to let her pass us. She did for a minute then she turned around and started coming back at us continuing to talk shit to Zorro. Then she started yelling at me say that dogs were not allowed on the boardwalk past 9pm but the sign clearly said no dogs on the boardwalk from 9am to 5pm. I tried ignoring her but at this point she was following me and becoming a pain. So I got Zorro in the car and headed home. I didnt know what else to do. If anyone can please help me out here. I would have loved to stay at the beach with Zorro he loves being out there. How should I have handled the situation better.