May 30 2008
Dangerous Dogs Don’t Got Mail
This past week, the Longmont Times-Call in Colorado published a story about a local postal carrier, trained by the U.S. Postal Service in defensive techniques that include wielding a can of pepper spray or mail satchel at a dangerous dog.
According to Longmont’s postmaster, customers who fail to restrain their dogs can lose their service or even cost service for an entire neighborhood block.
Mail carriers are most concerned about dog bites, which can lead to lost work time for carriers. Nationally, 3,149 mail carriers suffered bites in 2007, and each bite costs the postal service an average of $2,000 in lost work time and medical bills.
Most of the time, owners of dogs who threaten or attack mail carriers are first issued a warning that the dog must be restrained while the carrier is delivering mail. In the event of a second offense, the postal service requires that the mailbox be moved away from the house and dog to continue service. A third offense can result in a complete withdrawal of mail delivery to the home, plus if the dog is loose on the block, neighbors also may lose service.
Sometimes even the most docile dog will snap or lunge at a mail carrier, not out of malice but out of protection. So give mail carriers a break, and keep your pooch secured and out of the way of mail carriers.
The American Mutt-i-grees Club, founded by Pet Savers Foundation, wants to spread the word that mutts are people dogs too!
The American Mutt-i-grees Club is all about change and choice:
Changing how mixed-breed dogs are regarded, by celebrating the unique
characteristics of each one of them, and helping people make the right
choice - the choice to adopt mixed-breed puppies and [...]
The pills you pop may make you feel better, but they could be fatal to your pet. Just last year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications.
Here’s what to watch out for:
NSAIDs
According to the APCC, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most [...]
My distaste for puppy mills notwithstanding, I’m pleased to report that, stepping away from its reputation as “The Puppy Mill Capital of the East,” the Pennsylvania Legislature passed HB 2525 on October 8, a bill that will improve the lives of tens of thousands of dogs living in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills.
HB 2525 doubles the cage [...]
Two years ago today, my husband and I rescued Greta, and our lives have never been the same since. Sure, it was hard in the beginning–after all, she was a puppy with no experiences outside of living in a wire crate 23 hours a day.
Slowly, she learned how to relax and live in a home. [...]
October is Adopt-A-Dog month, a celebration established by the American Humane Association to promote dog adoptions from animal shelters and educate people about responsible pet care. Learn more about events in your area here.
And just in time for Adopt-A-Dog month, Disney’s new film, Beverly Hills Chihuahua hits theaters October 3. The film is about Chloe, [...]
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What a great (dog) blog! Until I adopted my two wonderful bully type dogs (who are well trained and extremely social, by the way), I had no idea how scary walking around the neighborhood. Now, I must admit to living in a lovely area and rarely see stray dogs roaming the streets, but I have been aggressively harassed by many dogs (off leash) with their owners who swear they are friendly. I have learned that many dogs are friendly to their family members but these people have failed to socialize their dogs to other people. Here lies the problem. I cannot imagine being a postal worker and having to deal with so many scary dogs. I think these tougher laws are great, though I don’t think it is fair that neighbors may be affected by mail service because of a negligent and irresponsible dog owner who will not restrain his dog. I think the AC needs to get tougher with these kinds of people and enforce tough fines, which may force them to take responsibility for their pets.
Hi Faith–thanks for stopping by and bringing up a great point! All too often, many people are punished for the stupidity of a few.