This Makes Me So Mad
 

A Mail Man here in Fort Worth, Texas killed a Silky Terrier/Yorkie on Saturday by hitting him with a rock. This makes me so mad.


Fort Worth mailman accused of mortally wounding family dog | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

That makes me mad also. Disgusting.

Heartbreaking!!

horrifying...... it is so important if you leave your dog unattended outdoors, to check your yard daily to make sure there is no way your pet can get out of it's yard. I never leave my dog / dogs unattended, every time my dogs go out I check the entire perimeter of the back yard everytime. One precious life has been taken for no reason. Horrifying.

That's so sad...I think he could have found a way to protect himself other than hitting the dog in the head with a rock...

Wow I can not believe this happened. . . Defending himself against a dog attack . . . It was a 10 lb dog . . The size of my cat . . . . Why didn't the guy use his bag to block the dog or maybe start yelling . . . This is just sickening

very very very sad state of affairs. he saw maxwell everyday for 5 years....sounds like he did something fishy to me. exact reason why I never allow mine out or anywhere out of my house alone. people are crazy.....10 pound dog really I would've let him bite me. sending many prayers to that family I cannot imagine how painful to lose your boy that way.

This is really sad :(. I would be devastated.

Awful! The mail carrier could have defended himself against a 10 pound dog without resorting to a rock!!

Before I had Max and Teddy, I was intensely afraid of even little dogs who tried to bite me when I was out walking . . . but I would never have done anything to harm them.

Exactly. The situation is sad. The carrier could have been deathly afraid of dogs and may have thought the dog was threatening him even if it wasn't. Thus he overreacted defending himself. I agree with Matese don't leave pets unattended outdoors. This isn't the only situation that can happen people will jump a fence to steal your animals too.

very sad indeed. I think though that its very possible the mail man could have been deathly afraid even if the dog was non-threatening. My daughter's grandma was a letter carrier for 30 years. She didn't like any dog and was deathly afraid. When Troy was 12 weeks, she wouldn't even pet him. So a notice to all owners of pets no matter how big or small, everyone reacts differently and has a different tolerance level for pets left unattended. I do hope the family is compensated or provided an official apology.

Then he shouldn't be in a field were he would come in contact with dogs. I am afraid of water and I choose to work in a field where I am not around water.

Its highly likely that when he entered the field that he might not have been afraid. Sometimes being attacked or various experiences will change ones ideals and perceptions over time .

I also think everybody has to work. This is his livlihood and not everyone has a world of options when choosing work. Some do things because they Have to not because they want to.

Exactly

It is not a reason to kill


I can't believe people are sticking up for this man.

A few years ago our mailman opened the screen door to our neighbor's house and accidentally let out his boxer. That dog was as friendly and playful as the day is long and began jumping around wanting to play. The mailman dropped his bag and took off running which encouraged the boxer to chase him. Eventually the boxer grabbed the mailman's arm and wouldn't let go until the owner caught up with them and ordered it. The bite caused nerve damage but the homeowners insurance covered it. Then the neighbor got notice from the insurance company to either get rid of the dog or lose their coverage. It was so sad because any dog person would have recognized this dog's playfulness and react accordingly. Fortunately the dog was very popular with our neighbor's friends and found a great home where they could visit him.


When the mailman came back to work he was obviously terrified of dogs. He would approach our house like it was about to explode because he knew we had Ivan, our big ol dufus GSD, that would bark when he approached. The mailman was traumatized and from that point on I suspect he would do anything to keep any dog away from him. I don't think it is fair to suggest he move to a different field since there are pension benefits he would forfeit but I do think the postal service should provide more training to their carriers about approaching dogs and recognizing behaviors. It would benefit them so much to be able to interpret body language of dogs.


The situation in this thread just upsets me so much! That poor little thing didn't deserve to be treated in that manner. Especially since the mailman knew the dog lived there and had never, I assume, had a problem with it.
He over-reacted and should be held accountable. I'm so sorry for the owners.

Why would your mail person open to door to someone's house? I don't know where everyone lives but our mailwoman wouldn't even get out of the car. Drive up to the mailbox and drop.

Not sticking up for the fact that he killed the dog whether he felt it was in actual self defense or he just overreacted. I'm not afraid of dogs never have been but I'm ridiculously afraid of snakes. If I were to run across one I can't guarantee how I'd react but I know I wouldn't be calm.

I don't like other people's dogs or trust them but that doesn't mean I would kill them. Also a snake is not someone's pet. I know people who own snakes and have them in their home, would you think about killing them just because you are scared? I don't think you would because you are a reasonable thinking person and would think, hey if I would kill this snake how would the owners feel.

If it were someone's home and the snake was contained of course I wouldn't kill it. But if it somehow became loose and I even thought it was in a threatening pose towards me or my child all bets are off. If I was deathly scared and I felt myself or my family was in danger my last thought would be "how the owner would feel". Btw lots of people have pet snakes my husband's fraternity brother for one. Which is why I won't go to his home for events. But that is a social gathering going to his home isn't going to effect my paycheck like in the mail carriers situation.

Personally, I think the guy should lose his job and be prosecuted for animal cruelty! A full grown man doesn't need to smash a little 10 lb dog in the head with a big rock! He could have resorted to something much less violent. Now if it was a large dog and it was actually attacking him, then I could see that reaction. Not for a little 10 lb dog that runs up to you though. Totally unnecessary! He should pay for being a cruel jerk!

And yes, I know the dog should have been contained to it's own yard, but 2 wrongs don't make it right!!!

If you are a lifeguard and you have a traumatizing event, where you are terrified of water do you still continue to be a lifeguard? I know if I was scared and couldn't preform my job to 100% I would find another job. No reason to go to work everyday of my life scared. I would much rather take a pay cut than work in that kind of environment.

I'm not sure what I would do in that situation because I've never been in it. I have the luxury of not having to work l, but if mine was the sole income for my family and there were no other opportunities within my field I'd probably "suck it up" and deal with it until I found something I was better equipped to handle. Providing for family would be priority my fears secondary.

Well if he was SO deathly afraid of dogs, maybe he should have carried a can of mace or pepper spray rather than resorting to a big rock! I have no sympathy for this guy!

Also, this is the HR person talking in me. If he was that terrified, he should have reported it to his supervisor. A good supervisor would help find a job with equal pay where you wouldn't have exposer to your fear or maybe provide training. And if he was attacked before hand then the postal service should provide counseling. There is always options, esp. having a government job.

I don't have all the facts, but I bet he will be slapped with jail time and/or a fine.

I agree he should carry mace considering his career (are mail carriers allowed to carry mace btw?). But in the heat of the moment of someone being afraid they tend to overreact and not think clearly. For example I found a lizard in my home. I'm afraid of all reptiles/amphibians so was I overzealous when disposing of it? Definitely. Could I have handled it better? Yep. Would I remember not to freak out if it happened again? Prob not

I never let Sophie outside unless my husband or myself are with her. It is not worth taking a chance something will happen.

True he should have spoken with his supe(but I've actually heard of some having supervisors who tell them to perform the job's requirements or find another job). I don't know about jail time though since the dog was loose. They may put him on leave, desk work, give him a different route(worst possible option), or something like that. In my experience most don't lose their jobs when they shout "self defense" and the animal actually wasn't adequately contained. There really is no type of compensation for the owners but hopefully the mail company will make an attempt to somehow rectify the situation.

Yup they carry some form of pepper spray. I don't think anyone here condones the extreme nature of the act. However I do think there are other factors here that the media didn't report thus facts we don't know.

I think through the investigation, that the the mail carrier will be provided with some form of re-training, re-assignment, reduced hours, or even let go. There's liability here with the owners, so more than likely they won't be compensated even though I hope they are provided some sort of acknowledgement from the USPS.

It's sad that some people still think that, but it happens more than it should. That is why people should go to HR when a supervisor acts in this short of manner.

Just saying something could have been done to prevent this for happening. It is a terrible situation.