Postal dog

[Anonymous]

Mail person scared of dog. Dog is always leashed when outside. Today while leaving in car buckled mail person insisted the car doors be closed. Yes the dog was buckled in the car. Mail Person also shook their mace in our direction. I am most concerned about the HOA.

[Anonymous]

Yes dog is big , looks part pit and would most likely lick the mail person -

[Anonymous]

Some people are scared of dogs. The least you could do is close the car doors before someone approaches. I hate when dog owners are so oblivious to this, like no, no one wants your dog licking them on the job. You’re in the wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are scared of dogs. The least you could do is close the car doors before someone approaches. I hate when dog owners are so oblivious to this, like no, no one wants your dog licking them on the job. You’re in the wrong.

The dog was buckled in with a dog seat belt. I told the mail person this after she held that I had to close the doors. I should add we have communal boxes and based on the location there is no need for her to approach our home. Two weeks ago she yelled at me to take him in as we were on a walk on the other side of our private alley. Dog was in mid pee.

[Anonymous]

*yellled not held

[Anonymous]

Just respect the person doing her job, and keep your dog away from her. Not hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just respect the person doing her job, and keep your dog away from her. Not hard.

Yes, please. My son has a real anxiety about dogs. And honestly many people do not have the control of their dogs that they think they do. Plus, to a person unfamiliar with dogs, they aren't going to know anything about your harness/buckle in the car. It's not on their radar at all.

Please be courteous to others who may not like dogs or who fear them.

~also a dog owner.

[Anonymous]

So...close your car door. What is the big deal? Obviously, the mail carrier doesn’t want to be licked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just respect the person doing her job, and keep your dog away from her. Not hard.

If the dog is secured in the car with a seat belt harness, it is not actually possible for the dog to approach the letter carrier unless the letter carrier for some unknown reason gets in the car. I don't think the OP needs to do more than that and certainly she doesn't need to be threatened with mace over the letter carrier's unreasonable fear.

[Anonymous]

Waving mace in your direction is not OK. Tell him or her that’s a threat and you need them to stop. If they threaten you again, contact USPS and the police.

I understand this person may have PTSD from a dog bite, but at this point they’re on the brink of assault.

Also note that postal workers have great leeway in how they respond to dogs. They are legally allowed to refuse to deliver the mail if they fell threatened by the dog. This means the burden is on you to secure your dog to the postal worker’s satisfaction, *not yours*.

BUT they cannot assault you by spraying mace in your direction!

[Anonymous]

Put your dog in your backyard like everyone else, OP.

[Anonymous]

The letter carrier is behaving abusively and could well be teeing up a fake personal injury claim. Yes, that happens. You’d better document the incidents comprehensively and tell the USPS.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should have closed the car door. But really I think you're both overreacting and that it's in your interest to act courteously and also to document anything odd that happens.

I agree with PPs that many people don't know about dog seat belts (good for you for using one--I wish more people would!). Also many owners--not necessarily you, but many-- don't control their dogs that well and think that it's OK if a big friendly dog comes bounding up. Your carrier has probably encountered many of this type and/or could have been bitten.

[Anonymous]

The mail carrier likely does not know what a dog harness in the car is. I would simply know the carrier is afraid and give him/her wide berth when you are out with your dog. Close the car door proactively so the mail carrier can see the dog is contained. Short leash walk your dog as far as you can from the carrier when passing. Now- as for the mace— call the post office and report that it it happens again. If your dog is leashed or behind a closed car door, there is no reason for the carrier to threaten you with mace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just respect the person doing her job, and keep your dog away from her. Not hard.

Dog was buckled into the seat belt buckle within my car.