Postal Letter

Would you get mad at the mailman if he/she sprayed your dog with pepper spray?

I'm applying at the post office for a job. If the dog was coming after me? I apologize if I scared anyone with my question. I would never hurt an animal on purpose. I was referring to self-defense. I live in USA and evidently they provide the mailmen with sprays for violent dogs.

Public Comments

1. You would probably end up getting the sack if you did that as a postie, unless the dog was attacking you, and you could prove so.
2. If my dog wasn't charging the mailman growling......I'd be pissed. Me and the mailman would be fighting. Now if my dog was charging, then I could understand the need to protect ones self. But do they even deliver mail by foot anymore.
3. It's better than running him over with his little mail truck.
4. lol if ur thinking of doing that these things will happen: 1. u will get sacked 2. u will be reported for animal cruelty 3. the dog might bite you 4. the owner will probably slap ya or really have a go at you 5. you will not have many friends so think again m8!!
5. next time he came around,,,,i would hose him down,,,ooops accidently of course,,,,,,but your not allowed to do that,,, not on purpose,,,,,
6. No....if a dog is approaching the mail carrier agressively, the mail carrier has every right to protect him/herself. Pepper spray is a bit much though....maybe citronella would be better. And you can't just run around squirting dogs. THose are tools to be used in extreme circumstances.
7. I'm sure the post office would let you know under which circumstances you are allowed to spray a dog. Actually, they are told that they don't have to deliver the mail to an address where a vicious acting dog is outside. It's up to the owner to see to it that their dog doesn't threaten the mailperson.
8. i think i'd get a little bit mad dont you? but then not half as mad as my dog would![you havent seen the size of him!] good luck with the job! happy new year
9. Of course I'd get mad!
10. I would get mad at anyone if they sprayed my dog . It is common a salt...............................
11. My dog would kick your ar$e, i forgot our anniversary once and she drop kicked me.
12. Yes.....would you get mad if I sprayed you as you put a letter in my mail box?
13. Owning or possessing Pepper Sprays is illegal and def against the law,so expect a trip to the Pokey. In the UK
14. I'd be more worried about the dog getting mad :-) plus i don't think dogs are really an issue unless you've done something to them. I've only had one dog who didn't like post men and that was because the post man hit him with his bag when he was a puppy so now he bites his ankles ha ha ha
15. though my dogs bark at the lady that brings our mail...(by car) if they are outside unless our rottie is on his run we are out there with them. so always under control one way or another. the run is so he can move around and potty and the few short hours at a time we are gone as he gets jumpy when left alone. he cannot reach the mail box and we have been told even the once he was running around the yard as his hook broke on his tie line he only barked at the mail lady. but to answer your question yes i would be mad since that ment she did so with no reason to. now if our rotty was off his tie and going after her i would give in to saying ok i wont sue...but if they were to do it (we have three people that brings mail depending on the weather and when our normal lady is busy) for no reason i would flip.
16. Well in my case I certainly would, because my dog is very friendly, our mail carrier has met him before and knows his name, and there's no reason he would be charging at the mailman unless he got loose and even then he'd probably just want to say hi. I would consult with your local post office about their policies regarding aggressive dogs. In my region, mail carriers can skip a house if the way to the mailbox is too icy and therefore poses a danger to the mail carrier. A notice is left for the house in question explaining why the mail was not delivered. I would assume the same principle would apply if there was an aggressive dog in the yard with no one or nothing keeping him or her from getting at the mail carrier once the gate was opened. As for dogs running loose, well, you do what's necessary to keep yourself safe, but I think trying to avoid the situation or use less extreme force is a much better first option that pepper spray. Again, ask the post office what their policies are so you know what you are and aren't allowed to do. And please stop reposting this question.
17. Yes I would. Because in order to do that, he would have to have entered my house (I believe that would be breaking and entering....illegal), gone into their room, and done it. Yeah....I wouldn't just be mad.....he wouldn't be employed anymore by the time I got done with him/her. Now, I guess to the point of your question, if I were an irresponsonsible pet owner, who allowed my dog to run loose, therefore giving it opportunity to get to a mailman, then I suppose I should be mad at noone but myself, and thankful that the dog didn't bite, possibly causing a lawsuit.
18. My dogs would never be put in the position where it was possible for them to get sprayed. They go outside into a fenced yard but sit at the door looking in until I go out to play with them.If someone comes to our gate they throw a huge fit and alert me to someones presence then it's my job to call them off or deter whoever it is from stepping onto the property. I myself carry pepperspray at times to deter other dogs from trying to attack mine as we go for a walk.And I have no problem using it altho I have not had to yet.
19. yes i dam well would...its up to me as a responsible owner not to put my dog in that situation but if i thought it unwarranted e.g. the dog was doing nothing to receive this attack i think i would no i know i would go ballistic...report the person to their bosses the papers..and police for an unwarranted attack on an animal ....thats after i put it where the sun dont shine in said postal worker
20. What on earth are people doing keeping a viscious dog where it could be in contact with the public???? Why is it the dog can get at people it should be in a back yard not front whre mail box is! Nope I wouldent be pleased if someone sprayed my dog I would probably have to be sprayed as well as I would go nuts!!!! I have an enormous rottweiller of 47 kilos and huge wolf like GSD as well...but then my dogs are not out being a danger to the public ! Here in the UK if a postie has problems with household dogs mmail is suspended and they have to pick it up at the post office...too right as no one should get bitten and peole who ahve a temperamental dog should keep it properly secure so it is not a danger to the public!