The Pony volunteered to work on Memorial Day, opting to earn more leave rather than holiday pay. It was just delivering packages, not regular mail. Of course no good deed goes unpunished. I got a text at 12:41.
"Ugh. 3x as many loose dogs today as leashed ones. Three from one house chased the truck down half the street."
At this point, the dog doesn't look all that threatening. But considering there were three of them, and that The Pony has been bitten a bit severely twice, I can understand his angst.
"Stay safe! their people are home for the holiday, and they're being protective. Have the spray ready!"
"Protective does not mean following a mail truck three blocks."
"Is there a dogcatcher, or a number to report loose dogs?"
"Not that's working. It's someone with the city that the managers usually call. And city hall is closed."
Oops! I forgot it was a holiday.
Some days, I think The Pony should get combat pay. Who knows what would have happened to children biking past those dogs or just walking near them.
ReplyDeleteYes, but it's not really the fault of the post office. It's the fault of the dog owners who don't keep them contained, within the city limits. Somebody is going to get hurt, due to the scofflaws who let their dogs run loose.
DeleteAt least he had a truck today instead of walking so he could stay in it if the dog looked threatening. Probably by now all dogs look threatening after the bites The Pony has had.
ReplyDeleteThe Pony always has a truck/van on his route. Parts of it are what's called a "dismount," where he parks and walks to deliver the mail. There's also a couple of "loops" where The Pony is on foot through some neighborhoods before returning to his vehicle.
DeleteWhile working on the Memorial Day holiday, The Pony was just delivering packages. Not walking the whole route. I can understand why dogs are a concern for him, after the flesh-tearing bites he has received.
Can he not deliver packages if dogs are out and about, making his route impossible? Someday, maybe you can show us pictures of how those bites are coming. I am still terrified of dogs because of a dog bite from the family dog.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about package days. On regular days, The Pony can skip a house with loose dogs, and file a "dog card." However, most of such houses already have the dog card warning. Sometimes a whole walking route gets skipped when the dogs are at the beginning of the walking loop. Then The Pony has to try to make delivery the next day, of the leftover mail and the new mail.
DeleteThe Pony uses that as a last resort. Otherwise he's not doing his job of delivering the mail.
I'll see if The Pony wants to share his bite progress. HOS (Hick's Oldest Son) was bitten on the face when he was young. Maybe 4-7, I'm not sure. He has a little scar on his cheek, but has never been afraid of dogs.