What happens if a delivery driver hurts my dog if dog is aggressive?

[Anonymous]

OP, you are being irresponsible, so if anything happened to the dog, it would be your responsibility.

You cannot leave a dog unrestricted in your front yard. You need to have the dog contained. If you do not get a fence for your yard, you need to restrain your dog on a leash. Your dog should not be able to get off your property. If a truck pulls up to the street in front of your house and your dog can get to the truck, then you are not appropriately containing your dog and you are responsible for anything that happens to another person or to the dog because you have failed in your responsibility as a pet owner.

So, either do as many have suggested and put your dog in the back yard, fence in the yard or part of your yard, or put your dog on one of those large area leashes when outside. The driver has every right to protect themselves and if they feel they have to use a baseball bat to protect themselves, that is your responsibility for being a negligent pet owner.

Do something more responsible before you put your dog back out in the front yard.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I love my dog. But I have a lot of appreciation and respect for delivery folks. If your dog is charging at them and they are afraid, it is completely on you if your dog gets hurt. Honestly, and your delivery person’s shoes, I would just throw your package from the truck into the middle of the lawn Rather than get down and deal with a dog I think made bite me.

[Anonymous]

I live way out in the country. Nevertheless, we have a dog fence. It's the height of irresponsibility not to contain your dog(s). Delivery drivers shouldn't have to defend themselves, or worry about running over a loose dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my ex coworkers is this trashy woman who also didn't keep control of her dog, a chihuahua. The chihuahua bit the USPS carrier, and the family has been banned for life by that USPS branch for delivery. So, they have to pay for a PO Box as long as they live in that house, because the post office won't deliver to them.

We have a house like that in our neighborhood. Wonder if its the same people, cause you description of her is exact.

[Anonymous]

If your dog is charging the delivery person and barking, the delivery person will not be responsible for any vet bills is they hit or mace your dog. They are allowed to defend themselves from an aggressive dog; they don't have to wait until it bites before they can take action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a delivery driver (Fedex, etc) is in our yard and injures our dog because they fear being bitten, can the driver be responsible for the vet bills?

Our dog is all bark and no bite, but I admit she can definitely seem aggressive to delivery drivers. I work from home and sometimes the dog is outside when a driver pulls up. I always go out there immediately and call the dog to me. In the intervening minute or two, most drivers toss a few treats out and the dog is fine. One regular just ignores her while our dog barks at him. Mail carrier honks her horn until I come out.

The other day our stupid dog ran barking at the truck, and when I went out there, the driver was facing her with an aluminum baseball bat. He put the bat down as soon as he saw me. I called the dog, and it was fine.

I get it. I think everyone has a right to self defense against a dog. I STRONGLY PREFER that drivers would have a non-lethal and non-injurious method like pepper spray or an air horn. But I get it.

So, what happens if the driver gets scared and takes a swing? Can they be sued for damages? (In a situation where the dog is NOT actively attacking, just acting aggressive and scary).

What is wrong with you?

Yes, if your dog is that aggressive that the delivery driver would feel the need for a baseball bat, they do not get paid enough to deal with you and your clear lack of taking care of your dog!

Drivers should not have to deal with protecting themselves when they come to your home.

Civil suit and you will lose

They can choose to drive away without delivering the package.

I am playing devil's advocate a bit here. My husband is the one who strongly believes the driver would be in the wrong if he hit our dog with a bat (unless he was actually getting attacked) . I'm not so sure, but I would hope a driver wouldn't hit the dog just because she's barking and looking scary. We should probably get a security camera.

You may be playing devil's advocate, but you and your husband are both morons.

+1

I love that OP's conclusion is to get a security camera to see if their aggressive dog at some point in the future might hypothetically get killed or maimed by the mail carrier who would then be acting in self defense. It's moronic on so many levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of dog is this, OP? Are we talking about a chihuahua or a Doberman?

50 lb mutt. She looks like a lab/shepherd mix, or lab/border collie.

I don’t care if your dog looks like Jesus on four legs with a tail keep it in the house.

Lol
That last response gave me the best laugh of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They can choose to drive away without delivering the package.

I am playing devil's advocate a bit here. My husband is the one who strongly believes the driver would be in the wrong if he hit our dog with a bat (unless he was actually getting attacked) . I'm not so sure, but I would hope a driver wouldn't hit the dog just because she's barking and looking scary. We should probably get a security camera.

You may be playing devil's advocate, but you and your husband are both morons.

+1

I love that OP's conclusion is to get a security camera to see if their aggressive dog at some point in the future might hypothetically get killed or maimed by the mail carrier who would then be acting in self defense. It's moronic on so many levels.

The only thing a security camera will do is confirm that you are responsible. If your dog was aggressive, it is 100% the owner's fault for anything that happens. If the dog charged the delivery person, and the delivery person defends themselves, the pet owner will be responsible for all insurance, damages, injuries, claims for both the driver and the pet. The only way the driver would be responsible is if the driver entered the property and stalked the pet that was minding its own business and attacked it.

OP and her husband would do better to invest that money into a dog run or fencing of part of their yard or at least long length leash to keep the dog away from the path from the street to the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a delivery driver (Fedex, etc) is in our yard and injures our dog because they fear being bitten, can the driver be responsible for the vet bills?

Our dog is all bark and no bite, but I admit she can definitely seem aggressive to delivery drivers. I work from home and sometimes the dog is outside when a driver pulls up. I always go out there immediately and call the dog to me. In the intervening minute or two, most drivers toss a few treats out and the dog is fine. One regular just ignores her while our dog barks at him. Mail carrier honks her horn until I come out.

The other day our stupid dog ran barking at the truck, and when I went out there, the driver was facing her with an aluminum baseball bat. He put the bat down as soon as he saw me. I called the dog, and it was fine.

I get it. I think everyone has a right to self defense against a dog. I STRONGLY PREFER that drivers would have a non-lethal and non-injurious method like pepper spray or an air horn. But I get it.

So, what happens if the driver gets scared and takes a swing? Can they be sued for damages? (In a situation where the dog is NOT actively attacking, just acting aggressive and scary).

I think you are more likely to be sued because your dog is menacing the driver. What if he pulls his back out or twists his ankle on your property because of your dog??$$ check your homeowners policy is up to date- you must notify the insurance company that you have dogs on the property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg. Your mail carrier has to sit there and honk their horn until you come out? And they have to throw treats, which they are likely paying for out of their own pockets?

Your dog is interfering with their ability to do their job. Do the right thing and keep it inside, or fence off an area in the backyard.

Op here. Just to clarify, our mailbox is on the road, she doesn't get out of her vehicle to deliver the daily mail. Just occasionally if she has a package that doesn't fit in the mailbox, she drives into the driveway and honks. If I don't come out, she drives away with the package and tries again the next day.

Good lord she shouldn’t have to do that!

Most mail carriers would refuse to deliver and make you pick up your mail at the PO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg. Your mail carrier has to sit there and honk their horn until you come out? And they have to throw treats, which they are likely paying for out of their own pockets?

Your dog is interfering with their ability to do their job. Do the right thing and keep it inside, or fence off an area in the backyard.

Op here. Just to clarify, our mailbox is on the road, she doesn't get out of her vehicle to deliver the daily mail. Just occasionally if she has a package that doesn't fit in the mailbox, she drives into the driveway and honks. If I don't come out, she drives away with the package and tries again the next day.

Good lord she shouldn’t have to do that!

Most mail carriers would refuse to deliver and make you pick up your mail at the PO.

+1. They don't need to delivery under these circumstances (asked a former postal worker to confirm). OP, contain your dog. You're irresponsible and at fault here. Reverse the situation and imagine it from the driver's perspective.

[Anonymous]

This happened near me. A cable repairman needed to access the family’s yard, and they weren’t home. The father gave the repairman the code to the gate and told him the dog was friendly. Not sure exactly what transpired, but the repairman claimed the dog — a big pit bull — charged him and he shot the dog (it lived, but had to have a leg amputated). The family was quite upset that the police refused to press charges.

I have a large doodle that is a complete wimp, but I would never suggest that a stranger go into our yard if I’m not there. He’s big and has a very deep, loud bark, and he thinks it’s his job to protect the house. Further, the package delivery guys are the bane of his existence. He barked at a FedEx truck the other day that wasn’t even stopping at our house.

OP needs to sign up for UPS and FedEx text notifications and tracking and keep their dog in when they’re expecting a package.

[Anonymous]

Get a bark collar and some training. and every time your dog barks she gets a tap of the button. She gets a no and a tap. She won’t do it after a while

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he bites delivery guy, they will take the dog and put it down.

No, that does happen in Europe, but not here PP. They would check with the owner if it was up to date on the rabies shot, that really would be all.

Wrong! There are plenty of jurisdictions where dogs are ordered euthanized after biting - it depends on the severity of the attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a delivery driver (Fedex, etc) is in our yard and injures our dog because they fear being bitten, can the driver be responsible for the vet bills?

Our dog is all bark and no bite, but I admit she can definitely seem aggressive to delivery drivers. I work from home and sometimes the dog is outside when a driver pulls up. I always go out there immediately and call the dog to me. In the intervening minute or two, most drivers toss a few treats out and the dog is fine. One regular just ignores her while our dog barks at him. Mail carrier honks her horn until I come out.

The other day our stupid dog ran barking at the truck, and when I went out there, the driver was facing her with an aluminum baseball bat. He put the bat down as soon as he saw me. I called the dog, and it was fine.

I get it. I think everyone has a right to self defense against a dog. I STRONGLY PREFER that drivers would have a non-lethal and non-injurious method like pepper spray or an air horn. But I get it.

So, what happens if the driver gets scared and takes a swing? Can they be sued for damages? (In a situation where the dog is NOT actively attacking, just acting aggressive and scary).

You are the problem. Don't order shit or have your stuff sent to a different address if you're going to be an asshole and leave your aggressive barking dog out. I've been bitten by a dog whom everyone said was all barks and no bite.