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Rain, Snow, Sleet, Storm ... and Dogs!

Local Mail Carrier Discusses the Eternal War Between Canines and the USPS

San Diego mail carrier Ryan Bradford is experiencing his "15 minutes of fame" via a blog entry titled "All The Dogs Want To Kill Me."

In it he posted several blurry (panicked?) photos hurriedly snapped while making his rounds.

Needless to say, the dogs in the photos are not exactly welcoming.

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They are in fact, more like a collective of fire-breathing dragons, out for a bite of only one tasty treat: mail carrier.

Which brings us to our own Joe Wright, who this coming July, will have served as a RiverDell mail carrier for 14 years.

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Wright is actually a dog lover himself, having been the owner of a devoted sheltie who passed away after 17 years. "I didn't get another dog after Roxy died," he says sadly. "I just didn't have the heart for it."

Does someone who loves dogs as much as Wright does experience a sense of dismay to be barked at, growled at and howled at on a daily basis? "No," he answers, without hesitation. "I understand where they're coming from."

Wright explains that the US Postal Service requires mail carriers to take a seminar on dog behavior as part of the job training.

"I get it," he laughs. "The dogs are under the impression they're doing a great job protecting their homes and families. I come up to their door and they bark. I deliver the mail and then leave. Every day the dogs think they've succeeded once again in scaring me away."

It's just how some (okay, most) dogs are.
Apparently even Roxy, Wright's now departed little Sheltie dog, despised the carrier who worked the route their home is on and would routinely throw a barking fit when the mail arrived.

"The mail carrier doesn't come every day at exactly the same time," Wright says. "So people don't always happen to have their dogs in check when the mail does arrive."

Has Wright ever been bitten? "Not bitten," he answers. "But I've been scratched by dogs who jump up on me and scared plenty of times."

Although May was National Dog Bite Prevention Month, for a mail carrier it's essential that owners implement some of the anti-bite tips year round. If your dog bites someone, the results can be very serious all around.

Most dogs bite for reasons which can be easily avoided by conscientious owners. Here are a few simple musts to avoid bites: 

  • Never put your dog in a position where he or she feels it is necessary to bite in order to protect either themselves or their family.
  • Dogs bite from fear: never let your dog be in a situation where they are afraid of someone who is approaching them.
  • Aggressive dogs need to be re-trained. Do your due-diligence and hire a dog trainer to assess and teach you to (humanely) correct the situation.
  • Keep doors to the home and yard exits properly enclosed....it's YOUR fault if your dog escapes and is injured or injures someone else.

What additional advice does Wright have for well-meaning dog owners to help keep their mail carriers (and dogs) safe?

"Sometimes I have to ring the bell to deliver something by hand," he says. "If people aren't expecting me they might just quickly open the door without thinking about their dog. Then their pet can rush right out and jump on me."

So, if your mailperson comes a-knockin', make sure your dog isn't going to run out the door if you open it!

"Also," Wright continues, "it's best if you don't try to force your dog to like me when he doesn't." In other words: Train your dog, NOT your mail carrier!

If Rover goes bonkers every time your mail arrives, don't try to get the mail carrier to give your dog treats or pet the angry animal. A dog that is protecting their home from the mail carrier needs to learn to OBEY his owner's commands to "Sit and Stay," regardless of who is at the door.

"I pretty much know all the dogs in the neighborhood," Wright says. "And some even love me!" Apparently Stella, a local regular on his route is one of Wright's biggest canine fans, greeting him each day with a wagging tail and plenty of kisses. Good doggie!

Open doors or gates are unsafe for both your dog and the mail carrier. Keep gates and all house doors secure. If someone rings your bell, know where your dog is before opening the door. For Joe Wright and all the other mail carriers in this world, every single work day is another Dog Day Afternoon!

 

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