oh yah the clumsy Postal Inspectors. These dingalings could not find their way out of a wet paper bag. In the postoffice there is not supposed to be nepetisum but its rampant in the inspection sector. This carrier must make sure that he side is made public before the goon sqard tries to quiet everyting up and shes on the street. Folks as the paper did not write an honest story we are he only hope of fairness. Stand by the carrier, call DHS on the mother and take pictures of the inspectors. so everyone knows who they are. They have squinty litte eyes for looking through those slots in the walls in the post office. They even had them in the bathrooms right at the mens urinal. Thats a fact.

1.) Dog should have been on a leash

2.) owner should have had control of the dog and

3.) the child would NEVER have been sprayed if 1 & 2 occurred!

From what was written in this article the Maine State/Dexter law does NOT state the dog doesn't have to be on a leash on it's own property! the law prohibits dogs from running at large no exception for 'on their own property'! Unless that dog was 'hunting' it legally needed to be leashed!

Calling DHS because the girl was taking the garbage out? Do you think that it is abusive for a girl to walk a bag of garbage to the curb? Good grief.

Jennifer - I think you are mistaken. "At large" means out and about away from their owner.

From the actual Maine Law:

6. At large. “At large” means off the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person whose personal presence and attention would reasonably control the conduct of the animal.

A dog is not required to be on a leash in the owner's yard or on another's property if the owner has permission from them.

Remember, we're talking about a 5 pound puppy here. Hell, it's not even a real dog. How dangerous can it be if a hawk or owl can have it for a snack???

My friend has a Jack Russel puppy and she's 4 lbs .....the puppy, not my friend....

Heck with the postal service or FBI.

I'm sure janet reno would have her recommendation.

I think this case should be turned over to the BATF.

Blast All Toddlers First.

I cannot wait for the truth to come out. I'm going to refrain from posting my true opinion at this time because there are more holes in this story than Swiss cheese.

In Houlton we hae a leash law that all kids and thier parents be leashed and have up to date shots. We have done well most of our dogs and cats remain safe. It is funny to see cats and dogs walking the kids and parents. Strang things and a strange town. We do have one major problems the spoiled parents cry a lot up here. They do quite down though at the end of each month when thier trust fund check comes in.

“At large” means off the premises of the owner or persons having control, custody or possession of the dog while the dog is not UNDER THE COMPLETE CONTROL of the owner or such person by adequate leash.

Why has the crazy postal woman not been identified?

Jennifer..."said Allie was frolicking on the lawn of their property " your dog doesn't need to be leased on your own property!! People are so worried about dogs.. what about CATS... I am sick of all the neighborhood cats crapping under my deck.. but its not illegal to let a cat wander... they bite and scratch people and tend to carry more diseases too! do you even know how small these dogs are? Full grown uner 5 lbs usually close to 2 lbs.... so an 8 month old puppy is much smaller and would pose no threat to anyone... Call it was it is... an over-reaction.... the woman had been bit before and she lost it... She should have stopped spraying when the little girl approached to take the dog away and "control" it... Remember this all happened on the owners property not on the street! You would think it was a 100 lb dog running at her!

Jennifer loook it up...at large means off property (free from restraint or confinement; at liberty: The murderer is still at large. ... many people have dogs roaming around whith underground fences installed to keep them ontheir property... This would be considered controlled on the property! I just saw thisdog on tv.. she is teen tiney!

The postal carrier was previously bitten on the arm by another dog.... Just how high can an 8 month old Chihuahua jump?

I hope, for the sake of the postal worker and children, that the postal worker was reassigned to an inside job.

I'm curious to know whether or not this woman (the postal worker), had ever had contact with this dog before?

Fire the postal worker. Jennifer who?

Its amazing how some of you can comment on this story and slam people like you do.It would be amazing to find out how many of you actually work?Theres only three people that know the true story.People say it all the time my dog wont bite,how do they know that for sure?I dont blame the the carrier for spraying the dog if she fealt threatened the dog should have been tied and not by the mailbox like most people do .I do feel sorry for the little girl and hope she will be ok.So maybe some of you should be looking at the job ads instead of spending your time commenting and slamming people!!!

captainandy wins the thread. 8-month-old chihuahua? Can you say 'punt' ?

I think it is funny that the side ad for this article from Google is pepper spray! Maybe we should all start carrying......But honestly, my daughter was bit by a dog through a jacket and it broke the skin, she was delivering the local paper. That was 15 years ago, it has made her more cautious growing up of dogs in yards and approaching a home with a dog that is loose but she has never felt the need to carry pepper spray. The SMART thing is to leave the area, not continue on to face a barking dog with his teeth bared. Walk backwards, and skip that house that day! If her previous experience was so traumatic perhaps she should have been switched to a car route.

Wow, so many of you are quick to condemn the postal worker. I don't want to get bitten by any dog, large or small and i doubt any of you want to either. Let's wait and see what the investigation shows. And for goodness sakes, will some of you people buy a dictionary. If you spout off like an idiot, and spell like an idiot, you're probably an idiot.

the postal worker had no reason to continue spraying after the dog was down rubbibg its face at which time the little girl came to save her dog and the woman kept spraying, also the mother said the employee was swearing etc before leaving the residence if the postal employee did nothing wrong why are they conducting an investigation?????

What a BS story.

Hey classiccarnut - did you notice who the girl's grandfather is? It is regrettable that the young girl got caught in the spray, but as we don't know which facets of the report are facts and which are exaggerations or misstatements I will refrain from passing judgment. But I can relate that my neighbor has a tiny chihauhau that is the nastiest, most vicious creature towards strangers, but like the pet in the story, it is "angelic" towards its owners.

Dear Dexter P.O. :

I think this was excessive agression against a dog.

Signed,

Michael Vick

It's all about money, sue.......sue.......sue and not taking responsibility. Stop delivery to the address and have them pickup rtheir mail at the PO.

anniepooh,

Thanks but I think "thebam" just moved into the first place.

Holy chi wow wow, that is funny!

Something is missing / doesn't make sense.

This postal worker does not want to be identified. Can you blame her? She made more of an jerk of herself than Serena Williams.

Yeah, just great. The postal service provides a "very-deluted" pepper based spray to use if a dog attack should occur. This woman did just that and now she is the going to go through an investigation by the postal inspection unit, and there is a good chance she might lose her job or have to go through the expense of being reassigned. Is this making sense to anyone yet? It's the same as giving a Taser to a cop then having a big investigation over him using it to protect himself and the perv. I would assume this was not the first encounter this carrier has had with this dog and yes it is a dog and the postal service gave her the pepper spray to use when attacked by a dog. It did not specify it weighed 5lbs or 80 lbs, the spray was for her protection and that is exactly what she did. Looks to me the family of the little girl is looking to fund her college fund at the expense of the taxpayer..............................

why would they identify the postal worker? She hasn't been charged with anything and if she is her name will be made public.

I do not work for the post office.

I have yet to understand why the mother didn't run after the child and smack the crap out of the mail carrier if she was outside with the child and dog. I still think that there are a lot of missing pieces to this story. Why didn't the mother call the dog back when she heard it start barking, if she was outside/in the door way and in control of the dog?

These dogs are dinky...weigh about 4lbs....Did the postal worker feel scared that she was going to lose her leg??? Gee...I can understand maybey one shot of spray to calm him down but contiuosly...his little face is only so big. To get it on the girl was the worst...that is where I can see her getting in trouble for her actions. Just have the postal carriers wear shin guards?.........................

Jennifer -- ditto. If I had been on the scene when somebody Maced my small child, the story (and fight) would have gotten larger fast. I think we don't have all the facts. Hell, I doubt if we have ten percent . . . and all that from one side.

"Wintle said she planned to take her daughter to the emergency room to have her eyes checked Monday afternoon." This happened on Saturday, have the girl's eyes been checked yet? Why wait until Monday?

The better question is why go to the emergency room on Monday? On Monday you should be going to a doctor's office. The emergency room is for emergency and not to check out an injury that happened two days ago. This is part of why health care costs are through the roof.

I agree that there are holes in this story and will wait for more information but I will say that little dogs in my experience are more likely to bite then larger dogs. I am not surprised at all that this story involves a little breed.

Talk about "Going Postal" !

For the record : an 8 month old Chihuahua weighs around three pounds (two pounds less than a bag of sugar) and stands about 6 inches high. I have two cats that are bigger than that!

I think the postal worker needs some serious therapy, a pair of glasses and a good dose of common sense. Anyone in their right mind would never see a threat from such a tiny dog. What is it going to do? Nibble on your shoe laces?

The postal worker, I suspect, has some intense underlying issues. For her to continue to spray the pepper spray while the poor little 7 year old girl tried to protect the traumatized Allie is despicable.

This post office worker needs to find a new line of work safely behind a counter or desk. Not all dogs are vicious. Just because she had a bad experience with one doesn't mean she should condemn the rest.

I think she should be charged with assault causing bodily harm, and if I were the mother of this child, a civil suit filed for the pain and suffering Kelsey was forced to endure.

The unnamed postal worker should be ashamed. This whole situation is disgraceful.

8 month?? The other article said 10 month... which is it?! And if you have READ the article, it doesn't say the daughter was taking the trash out. WOW.

The mother was on the news last night saying she was walking down the driveway. Quite a few contradictions huh? I think the mother's probably looking to sue, she looks the type.

Vchapes, I think that the first article said the dog was 5-lbs, not how old it is. But you're right in the first article it said the girl heard the dog barking in the yard, the little girl looked out the window and saw the woman spraying her dog, then she ran out to save the dog. Something is sketchy here. And I'm beginning to wonder if the mom is so far into her story she doesn't remember who she told what to. I mean, the postal workers side has remained consistent time and time again, the mom's story changes every half hour.

Spruce92 I thought the same thing! The emergency room on Monday and the afternoon at that...over two days later. The ER is for emergencies, go to your doctor!

She also must be real concerned about the kid, waiting all that time, probably just setting up the cards to sue. I love how it sounds like the mother's story keeps changing. I wouldn't be surprised if the girl got it in her eyes from transfer from the dog. Also if the mother was right there too why was she having the 7 year old fight her battles by rescuing the dog???

Vchapes - my mistake, it did say the age of the dog in the first article.

Well this article says 8 months the other article said 10 months. All the information keeps changing.

Funny story...it reminds me of something that would have happened in an old Seinfeld episode. Picture Newman in a wig running after a toy poodle and its kid owner with a can of pepper spray. Kramer running behind Newman trying to sop him. I had a paper route from age 8 to 16. I was bitten twice, once by a German Sheppard the other time a Doberman. But common sense tells you a tiny dog is not going to hurt you. If she really is afraid of dogs she should not be delivering mail. It is too high risk for her safety, the dog’s safety, and for the safety of little girls apparently. Not to mention if that was my kid and dog she was spraying rest assured this lady would have known what it feels like to get sprayed too along with a foot to her back side. And as a result I would have than gone to jail for a year. I do not wish for anyone to loose their job, let her do something else, but gosh please don't let her deliver the mail!!

HMMMMM, how do you "look" the type to sue? I agree with the people who have posted that there seems to be a few holes in the story. I whole heartedly agree with, jbsmy3, when I was younger I also had a paper route and if there was a dog that posed a problem, we just didn't deliver the paper until the owners had been spoken to and the situation was corrected. Another question, why in the world would DHS need to be called, who abused a child. Good grief, so a 7 yr old was helping take out the trash. OH NO!!!!!! How dare we as parents start to give our kids a little responsiblility, which in most cases, our kids that age are always asking to help with the chores. To 15wbulb, no where in the article did it say that the dog was trying to attack the postal worker. I think the problem here is as jbsmy3 said; perhaps this worker needs to be switched to a car route, she seems to be suffering from the attack of the dog that bit her. I mean come on, contiuously spraying the little dog. In all seriousness, I do hope that everybody concerned is okay, especially the dog. And to BDN, please oh please, listen to your readers and ban the moron who calls himself 'infoman" he has absolutely nothing intelligent to add to any of the stories he comments on, and I am NOT the only one who thinks he is a nuisance.

Never mind the ferocious chihuahua puppy, I've just learned [third 'graph from the bottom] that according to postal service spokesperson Tom Rizzo, postal workers sometimes even have to contend with "insects such as ...SPIDERS." (!!!) What is this world coming to?

jail the mother

jail the postal worker

euthanize the dog

place the childe in protective custody

sassiinalton, HMMMMMMMMMMMM, maybe you should see her on the news and listen to her, maybe you would see, I guess I should have said, she "acts" like the time to be sue happy. I bet she called a lawyer before she took her kid to the ER.

Right Peter? Because no other states have bees and spiders weather or car accidents. Us Mainers must be privileged! - *eye-roll*

tainted meatball = problem solved

Perhaps whomever is delivering my mail now that my usual letter carrier has been "reassigned" could take out the yellow jacket nest at the base of the pillar on the front porch?

What hear from Rizzo is the same thing I got my whole career there BS. One of the first things I was told to do is BS the customer.

Out of my whole career there I only had one close call of being bit by a dog. That dog was being held by the owner and the dog was strong than the owner.

As for the spray they told me I had to carry it. It fell off my belt one day (I did not know where) and I never replaced it.

As for the safety of the carrier that is just more BS from postal management. I would write up reports on unsafe conditions and NOTHING would be done.

Once the safety office told me they could not come and check out the unsafe condition because their supervisor would not let them drive that far because of the expense. I have also been told that there has to be unsafe areas somewhere. Now I can go on and on about how I was lied to and miss treated by postal management and the state union shop steward. Management even will lie to an U.S. Senates office.

Yes that carrier is paying dearly for her fear of dogs the emotional stress being placed on her by her over reaction (panic) and how she is being treated by the postal service. I feel sorry for her because I have been there. I am sorry for the little girl, the dog and carrier.

I was told that the U.S. Postal Service has more lawsuit against them than any other government agency. Why is that???

Remember if anything happens to the carrier on private property the carrier can sue the owner. Under state laws.

Yes I will not believe Tom Rizzo or anyone else from the Postal Service or a postal union.

Oh one more think I called the postal inspectors once and was told to handle the situation myself. Like I am trained to find out if something was stolen or returned. lazy bums

seriously if I was this postal worker I would've punted it Gostowski-Style over their house

"Stop delivery to the address and have them pickup rtheir mail at the PO."

About time they did this anyway. It would be a nice change to see these Postal Carriers who won't even deliver on some roads claiming "they are too rough for their vehicles" come out into our world and see what it is really like to work where you are not coddled by your employer.

What ever the PUPPY wieghed this is the definition of an over reaction.

YOU GUYS CAN BE CRUEL JUST BE GLAD ITS NOT YOUR CHILD THAT WAS SPRAYED!!!!

I don't have a childe

Depraved Indifference...(continuing to spray when a young child was present and then leaving the scene like it wasn't a big deal)

Assault of a child...(spraying a 7 year old with pepper spray)

Child Endangerment...(continuing to spray the dog with a child right there)

Animal Abuse AND the use of Excessive Force...(continuing to pepper spray the dog even after it was on the ground trying to clear it's eyes)

Disorderly Conduct (the swearing and foul language in front of a young child)

These are all potential charges this mail carrier could face. Now, I can understand her giving ONE shot of that spray at the dog...but continuous AND with a child trying to grab the dog? Swearing and using foul language in front of a 7 year old? That carrier obviously should NOT be delivering mail.

Why on earth didn't the mail carrier approach the house from the front where she was visible to the family? Perhaps if she were not cutting through yards and weaving in and out of buildings the family might have known she were about to deliver their mail so they could put the puppy in the house. I'm curious how many of those dog bites/attacks happen because the mail carrier is cutting through back yards and between houses instead of approaching in a fashion in which the home owners can actually see them and KNOW that they are there. If a mail carrier pops out from the side of a house like your average burglar it's going to cause any dog to bark at them. Use the sidewalk and the driveway so dog owners can SEE you so they can make sure their dogs are inside.

99.65 percent mineral oil, .35 percent awesome. I cant believe that, my gosh, the puppy was sprayed, because my little angel was just frolickinga round the yard chasing butterflies and sniffing butter cups. PUT THE DOG DOWN!

Um Rogue_Wave...the dog never even bit the mail carrier. In fact, the mail carrier was not attacked at all...she did the attacking...of a puppy and a 7 year old girl. She needs to be fired, charged with any crime she has committed and prosecuted.

We call it over spray, think of it like when you are spray painting something; you always have a little overspray. The girl most likely just got a little in the eyes and not a direct shot. Still painful but not deadly.

Just remember things you read about can be over exaggerated, or blown out of proportion.

I think I would let the police figure out what really happened. You do know that one person interprets things different than others....

Just remember Spock would tell you there must be a logical explanation..

The postal worker was on the _dog owners_ property. The dog was in its own yard, the _tiny puppy_ was barking..normal behavior for any dog when a stranger is in their territory. The child intervened, one shot apparently subdued the dog, so why multiple sprays? Why continue to spray when it was obvious the owner was intervening. Was the postal worker injured? ( not likely with a 4-5 pound puppy). The child and the dog both were, and if it had been my dog and child subjected to unwarrented excessive violence ( yes violence!) I would be suing too. Not to mention the cursing

omfg, my daughter (perfect in every way - even goes to Baptist Sunday School) was just pepper-sprayed by the wicked witch of the West Dexter Postal Worker Union who was swearing like a fish and shouting like I've never heard anyone that the Chiusuauaua we have is gonna bite her leg off and even sprayed the dog. I am going to sue. Call Joe Borenstein. Everybody laugh close curtain.

JAIL MOTHER

JAIL POSTER WORKER

PUT THE DOG DOWN NOW

BUILD THE GODDAMN BOATLAUNCH

Place child in protective custody

The dog was sprayed because the mail carrier was P****D OFF otherwise she would have at least advised the parent what she had just done to a little girl and her dog on the news report the mother stated she was outside as well at the time but didnt see what was happening until just after the postal posatal worker attacked her child. SPRAY FIRST ask questions later!! She should find a new career. And Rogue_Wave you should be put down!!

not even a real dog anyway...more like a rat...pitbulls are disgustin

Rouge_Wave- What planet are you on?? Why put the dog down?????

Bottled Goodness- How exactly do fish swear??? Bubble messages? And what are you talking about pitbulls for?? There are NO pitbulls in the incident, or the article... You need to lay off the bottled goodness and stop hanging around TheInfoMan because you both seem a little pickled.

Well at least Rizzo put in his "UNBIASED OPINION" in she only sprayed the dog and kid because she was "seriously injured" last year KEEP YOUR DOGS INSIDE ALL DEXTER TOWNSPEOPLE the mail NAZI is coming!! God they better bring the cats in too they are bigger than the dog and they have claws holy cow!!!

If she didnt spray the dog God knows what would have happened. We live in a society with rules and where all dogs are created equal under the law. It doesnt matter the size, age or breed. I love all dogs and they love me but if one comes at me dont think I wont put it in its place. Pepper Spray? I dont need no stinking spray.

This is another case of Cause and Effect. If the the dog was inside with the family the girl wouldnt have gotten the spray in her eyes, which I have heard from locals found its way there from the girl touching the sprayed dog and not actually being sprayed by the scared postal worker. Its 99% mineral oil, flush it out.

what if this little harmless dog had rabies and bit the letter carrier? would some of you dog lovers change your tune then? girl was collateral damage and was not harmed intentionally. and please... nobody throw the " what if it was your kid" bullcrap at me, because : A:) I would never own a dog, and B:)if I did, it wouldn't be loose in my yard so none of this could ever happen to me.

Chiauauuauas are nothing but RATS... and would you welcome a rat to a door and give it milk? I don't think so.

REALTREECAMO99 are you hiding Jews?

Like the old joke says."Shoot the dog" "Shoot the Dog" Until you have been bitten by a pack of dogs you will never know what it is like to be confronted by a harmless dog and of course their halmless dog owner. Please just walk a mile in my shoe and see how many times you have to deal with uncaring dog owners.

RogueWave you do need grammar help and I guess you feel all children and dogs should never be allowed outside! And why dont you do a little research for us when your mail comes today growl and show your teeth at the mailman after you are sprayed let us know how it feels stay away from his leg!!!

Tele,perhaps a Vulcan mind meld is in order

The tv news has video interviews on this story. According to the EMT who treated the 7 year old girl, she DID get a direct hit IN THE EYE with the spray. That's not "overspray" or rubbing off from the dog. Her mother had to call 911 because the little girl's face swelled up, turned red and she had a hard time breathing. Those sprays are formulated and tested on ADULTS for safety...not 7 year old children who weigh under 50lbs. This really isn't about the dog...it's about that little girl.

Just let the postal worker throw a tainted meatball on the lawn and be done with it.

Centaurmyst is right on!!!!

I'd say the postal worker is lucky, had she sprayed my dog and child she likely would have been leaving my property in an ambulance. I'm sorry but if you are afraid of dogs then delivering mail probably isnt the best profession for you. I don't know of too many dogs that are not going to bark at someone who enters their territory. I love how ignorant people always have to drag pitbulls into any type of dog complaint article. I own two pits and they are the sweetest dogs, its high time people stop with the stereotypes. My dogs will bark at anyone who comes onto my property, if the intruder poses a threat they will be met with my Glock however and not my pit bulls.

The name of the postal carrier should be released to the public.

Actually with the exception of a semi colon and a typo my grammar is right on; just like the carriers aim.

So the woman called 911, EMTs arrived but no need to transport to hospital? Must be a real stinker of a condition. I fell off my bike once when I was seven and never missed a recess. I also have a scratch from a one pound kitten from when I was five. You know what I learned? Dont stick my body where it doesnt belong.

antifreeze meatball for you my little chihuahua friend?

I can tell you fell off your bike must have hit your head also! Sorry they didn't use helmets back then!

REALTREECAMO99; the sentence "I dont need no stinking spray" is a play on words from the movie Blazing Saddles. It derived from a pair Mexicans saying they didnt need no stinking badges to shoot people. I didnt realize I'd be educating today.

Rogue_Wave...actually, your punctuation is pretty bad. What do you have against commas? :p

Where exactly does your body belong??

Im sorry I work so I don't have alot of time to watch movies, someone has to pay for your free healthcare and food stamps.

"We don't need no stinking badges" is originally from the great film classic "Treasure of the Sierra Madre."

If you are afraid of heights you probably should not be a pilot. If you are afraid of dogs, do not deliver mail. How long has the postal service been around? What since the mid 1800's or sooner? I can not believe that this is still an issue. I guess that is a hint not do intrude on GixxerRiders land.

Thank you Anne! Blazing Saddles was late 70's?

Realtreecamo hasnt watched a movie but he finds time in his busy work schedule to read online comments. I pay cash for all my food friend, and healthcare isnt something thats free to me. I hate apostrophes, love the semicolon, kinda like hyphens and admire the question mark; commas are just over-rated.

vchapes RE: 11:02 That is hilarious, just hilarious!!!

:)

This is a job for our socialist superhero team of O and Joe. Bring the mom, kid, postal worker, and dog to the white house for a Buritto summit.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948 at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040897/

Becoming a postal carrier is not a good aspiration for someone afraid of or unhandy with dogs.

The US Postal Service uses a product called "Back Off" dog repellant. The warning label reads as follows "Danger product causes irreversable physical eye damage if sprayed in the eye"...that is a quote from the can!!! I can not understand why the mother in this case would have been upset?? Most people would not give a rip if their animal or child was sprayed with this stuff...and you certainly would not expect someone to actually tell you what product was just used on your animal or child right!!! Come on, If I delivered mail and was in a situation I had to use this stuff even if it was an accident I got your child indirectly I would make an effort to inform the parent so they could get the child whatever treatment is called for. But no swear and leave..much better approach.

I could understand people defending that letter carrier IF it were just the dog who got sprayed...but I'm thoroughly disgusted that some people are actually responding as if the assault on this little girl isn't a big deal. If I walked into someone's yard and sprayed pepper spray in their 7 year old's face I would expect to be arrested and charged with a crime. If this happened to my daughter I would be on the warpath. If it happened to my dog I would be mad and complain but probably wouldn't want to press charges. But my child? I'd be furious...kinda like a gut shot grizzly backed into a corner protecting her cubs. I'd want the mail carrier fired, charged and prosecuted, a formal apology from the carrier in writing and from the post office, mandatory anger management classes for the postal worker. If they just let the carrier get away with it or refused to take responsibility for her actions or blamed me or my child THEN, and only then would I sue because I would not feel my child got the justice she deserved.

I used to work a job that required me to go to lots of houses and as a result I too carried pepper spray for dogs. I sprayed literally dozens of dogs that would have bitten me otherwise. In several cases the owners ran out and grabbed the offending pooch and started nuzzling their faces right in the dogs face trying to comfort them. In each and every case cross contamination occured and the owner wound up with a face full of pepper spray too. I suspect that this little girl did the same thing and got the OC in her face this way instead of her having been sprayed by the postal worker. Regardless of how afraid the carrier is of dogs I seriously doubt if she actually sprayed a small child. The scenario I describe is much more likely.

Bravo Centaurmyst well said!!

Her injuries are so weak that the ambulance didn't even take her to the hospital! The mother even said that the dog was fine now. The postal worker being unhappy with dogs does not prove intent to do bodily harm to either of the victims. She reacted and the daughter pseudo-heroically acted as well. Where was the mother? In the house, on the deck or in the driveway? I’ve heard all three reports. As for the swearing and yelling...studies have shown that people under intense distress will unconsciously speak uncharacteristically or even in strange tongues (see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).

http://www.postalproducts.com/bigpicture/S1001152.htm

You can read the warning label on this photo. Keep Out of Reach of Children would be a good indicator that it's NOT SAFE to use it near children either.

Haaaahaha Harry Potter is such a reliable, credible source. Maybe i can learn how to make my broom fly too!

HowardAllred...how does the top of a girls head become saturated with pepper spray from "nuzzling"? Simple...it doesn't. She was sprayed...that is the ONLY way it would have gotten on the top of her head. The EMT who treated her said that she suffered a DIRECT hit. I can't believe that people are blaming this little 7 year old child for a mail carrier ASSAULTING her. Outrageous...

Wingardium Leviosa.

Good thing the postal worker didn't have the spray that is made for Grizzlies.

mdiguy what does that stand 4 maine delirious idiot!!!!!u need not assume anything because u might come out looking like an *ss.the dog has been approached by manny "strangers"never once has it even shown its teeth! sounds like a real vicious dog 2 me!!!!!the postal service has never had any previous complaints or problems w/ the "dog" in question and when a dog in down rolling on the ground yelping in pain wouldn't u consider the "threat" it poses extiunguished?and what does the grandfather have to do w/the price of tea in chinia?u got nothing better to do then defend "Postal" postal workers,i hope u never meet up w/one.if the woman had bad past experiences w/dogs and was that mace happy she should b working behind a desk!!!!i'm sorry there r several things she could have done and what she chose 2 do should not have been an option!!!the dog never even showed its teeth !1yeah tail wagging and barking ,sounds like an attacking dog 2 me!!!NO SOUNDS LIKE A MENTAL POSTAL WORKER THAT WAS TRIGGER HAPPY BECAUSE SHE'D BEEN BITTEN BEFORE!!! COME OFF IT I COULD SEE IT IF THE DOG WAS ATTACKING OR SHOWING ITS TEETH AND FOAMING AT THE MOUTH BUT IT WAS ON THE GROUND ROLLING TRYING TO GET MACE OUT OF ITS EYES AND SHE KEPT RIGHT ON SPRAYING!!I THINK SOME OF U PEOPLE HAVE MORE HOLES IN UR BRAIN THEN SWISS CHEESE!! U BETTER HOPE THE NEXT TIME ITS NOT UR FRIENDLY BELOVED PET AND LITTLE KID!!WOULD U BLAME IT ON THE DOG AND PARENTS THEN?COME ON!!!!!

The story from yesterday has a posting from someone who knows the family involved and wrote the little girl now has an eye infection. NICE maybe the child was taken to the hospital because her eyes still hurt and Rogue Wave go play with your Lord of the Rings statues and watch some more movies! Make sure you have your lease on the mail person is coming soon!

koolmama...more like locamadre

good thing she didnt have a tazer zap the kid and dog at the same time.

Calm down koolmama.. Not worth getting all worked up.

leash sorry!

DON'T U HAVE 2 WALK DOWN THE DRIVEWAY 2 TAKE OUT THE TRASH?WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS!!!!AND 2 THOSE WHO WANNA SAY A DOG BITE HURTS TRY GETTING MACED!! NOW THE LITTLE GIRL HAS AN EYE INFECTION AND COULD HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE!!!

My lease on the mail person? Lincoln freed the slaves moron. I read the books thus proving you're an assumer.

Yes I am sure you do read books with pretty little pictures on one page so you can understand what is going on.

BOTTLED _BS UR A JOKE WELL MAYBE WHEN U GROW UP AND U HAVE NEGLECTED CHILDREN WE'LL ALL HOPE ITS NOT UR KID THAT GETS MACED AQND HAS PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE FROM PEPPER SPRAY THATS MOSTLY WATER!!

No assumptions on your end? I think it is time for your nap you are getting snappy!

Someones getting a little testy..........Whats with all the shouting???????

DO U EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT

MEANS "ROGUE WAVE"?

All I know is if this had happened in my yard the article would be talking about the medical condition of the postal worker and the length of my stay in jail. Dog bites would have been the leat of her concerns.

That is not macho talking that is just simple reasonable fact. I would have snapped and woman or not I would have beat her to a pulp.

My question now though is why didn't the mother react as quickly as I'm pretty sure I would have?

Exactly how fast was the get-a-way and is the speed of the get-a-way related to a sense of guilt for what she had done?

As the mail carrier if I had just done harm to someone or someone's property I would think there would be some sort of policy to remain on the scene and provide assistance.

I'M SHOCKED "ROGUE WAVE"CAN EVEN SPELL THAT, AT LEAST WE KNOW U USE YOUR BRAIN 4 SOMETHING EVEN IF ITS NOT USEFUL OR HELPFUL

koolmama, honestly due to the caps I normally just skip over your rants. So undo the caps and ask me and explain what you're talking about.

realcamo: Have you ever read Tolken? There are no pictures.

I'm getting confused now. Man people, way to get off topic. Why is everyone yelling?! I'm having flash backs to a time when people yelled at me... i may go mace some children now to soothe my psychosis...

SHE IS A REAL SCREAMER MY FAVORITE

text copied from the USPS standard operation proceedure manual....WAS THIS FOLLOWED?? remember no one is claiming the dog attacked anyone!!!

Neither antagonize nor attempt to pet dogs. If a dog

rushes toward you or takes you by surprise, do not

run. Retreat very slowly, facing the dog. Keep your

mail satchel between you and the dog as a first line of

defense. Be careful not to stumble over objects as

you retreat.

 Use dog repellent spray only if you are attacked.

Spray it directly at the dog’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

Do not use dog repellent indiscriminately or when

there is danger of spraying children or adults.

Sooo she should be fired for sure, never to be hired by USPS....or any US office again.

ITS SOOOOO FRUSTRATING WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE WANNA JUDGE SOMEONE ELSE AND MAKE ASSUMUNPTIONS ABOUT STUFF THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT AND UR RIGHT I APOLOGIZE 4 ANY HARSH STATEMENTS I MADE BUT I'M NOT SHOUTING .ITS JUST THE IGNORANCE ON THIS PAGE IS APPALING.AND UR RIGHT CAMO I AM MAKING ASSUMUNPTIONS ABOUT BOTTLED_BS AND "ROGUE WAVE"I REALLY NEEDENT SAY ANYTHI NG ABOUT THEM AT ALL THEY SPEAK VERY CLEARLY 4 THEMSELVES!

Oh dear...

Kool down koolmama: Not worth strokin out over...

U'D KNOW TELEFUNKINU47?!

I'm having a hard time holding myself back ....:) I know I can do it......

vchapes: Where have you been?...your so funny!

I think anyone who commented in reference the mother being "sue crazy" is wrong. The USPS set up S.O.P's for a reason. This carrier was totally wrong for making the decision she made. A child has ultimatly paid for her poor decision. I can only pray the child suffers no long term damage from this incodent. I also hope the USPS takes this as an opportunity to improve training so it does not happen to any of you that are reading this or your children. YES SHE SHOULD BE FIRED!!

The worker hasn’t spoken about the event yet which is normal protocol for government employees; until she does we are all just assuming. When she does speak, or has someone speak for her, its going to be one story. This is protocol for a reason. Look at the mother in this story: the first day she was inside, she was on TV saying she was on the deck last night and now I read that she was in the drive way. Of course she is going to say the dog didnt "attack"; it's the entire basis for a story and lawsuit.

I've been right here for a long time HRH149. Where have YOU been?

KoolMama, you are a little rampant. Most of us agree the postal worker was way out of line. We don't know you or the woman and her daughter so honestly, your statements are no different than hers and really can't be taken to heart. Not saying you're wrong so christ, don't yell at me. The postal worker should be identified... what if she's out there pepper-spraying baby birds as we speak. We should plaster her picture all over town like a pheodifile to ensure she never delivers mail or tortures babies again!

If what she is saying is true their should be a lawsuit!!!! The post office has a web based site with this story and it says no attack took place it states the dog was "barking and showing its teeth" ahhhh when they bark don't they show their teeth...maybe this one had dentures instead.

Our little Chihuahua friend needs to swing from the gallows....

koolmama...the reason people think you are "yelling" is because you are typing in all capital letters. When people type in all caps online it indicates they are yelling. You really should unlock your CAPS and type in regular text. It's really hard on people's eyes to read when someone types in all capital letters.

I am thinking General Gau's Chihuahua in the postal lunchroom

lol can't an american have free speech

BOTTLED_BS LOL...

koolmama, i'm gonna give Obama a call and have your house searched and siezed and car taken away and possibly have you imprisoned for hurting this poor girl and dog as well as your own children. I WILL NOT STAND FOR NEGLECT OR ABUSE OF CHILUNS AND DOGS...

I am calling right now...

Tree can I interest you in an antifreeze meatball?

Caps locks are a dangerous tool, they get you in trouble- check it out-- http://shavetown.com/2009/09/12/caps-lock-this/

wouldn't mind euthanizing this dog by myself...

beavis get mah shot gun

hurr durr

I hate when I'm working on a document and the CAPS lock accidently turns on and you have typed a bunch a words before noticing it.

koolmama there are several things the MOTHER could have done to prevent the situation too. She chose to take the irresponsible route and not be in total control of her animal (regardless of size and age). She allowed her child, according to 2 of the 3 stories she was right there with her child outside/in the doorway, to play hero to a dog! The child paid the price!

REALTREECAMO99 how would they know yesterday that the child had an eye infection? Considering the mother was going to wait until yesterday afternoon to take the child to the ER, instead of their primary care doctor? If the child has an eye infection and the mother neglected to get treatment....well goes to show just how concerned this mother is about her child.

koolmama so you are admitting that this woman neglects her children? (12:53pm post) And by the way they said it was mostly mineral oil NOT water.

I put mineral oil on my breakfast and on all my open wounds. Love it.

NO, AMERICANS ARE NOT ALLOWED FREE SPEACH! WHERE HAVE U BEEN BOTTLED_BS?HAVE FUN PEOPLE MAYBE WE'LL ALL FIND SOMETHING MORE CONSTRUTIVE TO DO W/ OUR TIME.LIKE FEED THE POOR OR HELP SOMEONE OR CONTRIBUTE 2 THIS SAD WORLD OF OURS IN SOME POSITIVE WAY.:)SORRY TO THE PEOPLE WHO R ANTI CAPS OR CAPS SENSITIVEI DIDN'T EVEN RELIZE TIL RIGHT NOW.

Your caps-lock is stuck.

yikes

Jennifer...the USPS has a specific policy regarding the use of that pepper spray. The postal carrier did NOT follow that policy. Mail carriers are ONLY supposed to use that spray if they get attacked. This carrier got barked at. Almost every dog will bark when someone they don't know approaches their property. Not only did the mail carrier NOT need to use the spray when she did she also continued to use it when the dog was already incapacitated. The little girl did not go pick up the dog until the dog was rubbing it's face in the grass and trying to clear it's eyes with it's paws. The postal carrier CONTINUED to spray when the girl was picking up the dog. The USPS specifically says carriers are NOT to use that spray anywhere near children or adults. If it is sprayed directly into the eyes of a person it can cause PERMANENT damage. According to the tv news the EMT who treated the little girl told the mother that the girl WAS sprayed DIRECTLY in the eye.

As for the mother...perhaps she could have done things a bit differently but that does NOT change the fact that the postal carrier broke USPS policy AND committed an assault against a 7 year old child. Regardless of whether or not she intended to spray the child...had she followed the policy of her employer she would not have used that spray at all because there WAS a child nearby. At the very least the mail carrier was negligent.

mineral oil builds character

+

+WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?SHE HAS AN EYE INFECTION AND SHES ON ANTIBIOTICS AND NOT ONLY DID SHE GO TO THE ER SHE SAW THE AMBULANCE WORKERS. AND THE PARENTS WERE HOPING THE BRIGHT REDNESS AND PAIN WOULD GO AWAY.WHEN IT DID NOT THEY WENT TO THE DOCS.AND U GO DUMP MINERAL OIL AND PEPPER SPRAY/MACE IN UR EYE AND TELL ME HOW IT FEEL AND UR NOT 7!~U PEOPLE R SAD,VERY VERY SAD PEOPLE

bottled_goodness:

Please spare us the ridiculous racial stereotypes.

watch out for those postal workers ya'll!

koolmama...is your caps lock key broken or something? Honestly...it's VERY difficult to read comments when they are written in all caps. I agree with you that the postal worker is an idiot...but your posts are making my eyes bleed.

Cant you feel the love

How about a minefield of mousetraps to set that little Chihuahua straight? A bamboo pit?

A night in the postal workers tool shed(the Hanoi Hilton)might keep that little rodent dog in line

I cant believe that I am ANTI CAPS...I need a support group.

Ahhh yes koolmama,"AND THE PARENTS WERE HOPING THE BRIGHT REDNESS AND PAIN WOULD GO AWAY" I forgot i lived in a society based on hope.

Centaurmyst: Im sure there are specific policy regarding the use of that pepper spray. Again we only have one side of the story here. Even if she did act out of line the USPS has to have trained her to use the spray if it was issued to her; If they did not then they are at fault. If there was a training then there will be record of it and then she is is liable if she acted in appropriately (which is very possible).

Allie drew "first blood"

Send that vicious chiwawah to the Wing Wah over to Lincoln. They're back up and running, I hear. They have many different kinds of sauces.

A weekend in Tinkersville?

Lunch at the White House?

Good job on throttling back koolmama. You had everyone wound up here....... Almost saw a kat fight a brewing....Damn too bad....;)

DOG BITES HUMAN. HUMAN GOES TO HOSPITAL WITH DIRTY FLESH WOUND. DOG GETS DESTROYED.

I think the pepper spray was the cheap and practical alternative. I know the postal worker. She delivers MY mail. She's driven by my house when our dog is out doing the "duty". I told her it was okay. I don't blame her.

"HAPPY GRUNTS"

Lots of sauces is right

Tinkersville is a tough place.

I'm hoping you go away Rouge Wave......please..please..please and Beavis and butthead grow up!

By the way, mineral oil is the main ingredient in one of the best ocular lubricants on the market.

No kidding do they mix it with HOT PEPPER too???? Mr obvious

Tree eat your antifreeze meatball and fall silent into darkness

The ER doesn't do anything for an 'eye infection' they say oh well, you will need to see your EYE DOCTOR.... been there, done that. My husband gets everything in his eyes... metal, brake kleen, ummmm everything! (Yes i spelled kleen right, smarties) But Beavis, you should be shot. can you come over please? i have a hole out back that needs to be checked out... you might fit perfectly.

Realtree.... apparently SOMETIMES they mix it with hot pepper!

My point was that mineral oil itself isn't bad for the eye surface.

ham drapes

Rogue_Wave...the top of the little girl's head was saturated enough with the spray that when it dried it made the hair on top of her head all harden. She could not have gotten spray there by rubbing up against the dog or nuzzling it. The only way the spray could have gotten on the top of her head like that is if the mail carrier sprayed it near her. That is against the policy of the USPS in and of itself.

gosh I can believe I just read all of those comments. too funny.

I heard Tinkersville is so tough that all the rats wear leather jackets

WOW

Here are the actual USPS rules straight from the mail carrier's manual. Obviously this carrier did NOT follow USPS policy.

United States Postal Service manual EL-814 states:

D. Animals and Insects

You are not required to deliver mail in any instances where you are

threatened by an animal. Use extra care in making deliveries when dogs or

other animals are loose on your route. Prepare From 1778, Dog Warning Card,

and place it in the letter case whenever you observe an animal that may

interfere with the delivery of the mail. In addition, report any such

interference to your supervisor so that the customer may be notified that

the animal must be restrained. Follow these guidelines:

+ Neither antagonize nor attempt to pet dogs. If a dog rushes toward you

or takes you by surprise, do not run. Retreat very slowly, facing the

dog. Keep your mail satchel between you and the dog as a first line of

defense.

+ Use dog repellent spray only if you are attacked. Spray it directly at

the dog's nostrils. Do not use dog repellent indiscriminately or when

there is a danger of spraying children or adults.

USPS publication A65 states:

Instructions to Postal Employees.

This repellent is to be used on any dog that attacks. It does NOT replace

the policy of non-delivery of mail where there is a dog menace! Collection

and delivery service personnel are to report the name and address of the

customer where such a menace occurs to the postmaster or authorized

supervisor who must immediately telephone the customer and request that the

animal be confined during the usual delivery hours in the neighborhood. The

postmaster must further inform the customer that until this is done (1) no

deliveries will be made, and (2) service will be restored upon assurance

that the animal will be confined. Personnel are not to use the repellent

where there is a danger of spraying children or adults. Indiscriminate use

of the repellent will not be tolerated-personnel so observed are subject to

disciplinary action. Be alert for the sneak dog attack.

CENTAURMYST.You stole my thunder

Its early..... who got the letters shut down today???

I WILL BURN YOUR LIFE

anyway...

*SNAP*

GOSTOWSKI BACK TO PUNT

catches chiuauauuauua and punts it from the KCC Bingo Hall into Lake Wassokeagomashat

lands facefirst into the new BOATLAUNCH

everybody laugh, roll curtain.

Beavis...I think you'll live, lol.

DuckWah!!!!!!!! We have all been waiting on your restaurant review!!!!!!

Heard rumors of an IBS flare up

Stop mail delivery at this address until futher notice.

Funny thing is this lady is in such fear she still delivered the mail after she attacked the dog & the child sounds like she was really scared!!

Did you meet Betty White?

I wish all you dog lovers would just ask your mail carrier "Just how often they are confronted by an out of control dogs in an average day"?

Not rain nor snow nor chowawa in the arms of a seven year old girl with stop them...

I plan on trick or treating as Michael Vick at this home in Dexter !!! I will be delivering the"electric meatball" in person.

Are you going to be the meatball??

Give it a rest hero

Right back at you meatball!

THEY ARE POSTAL WORKERS

THEY ARE POSTAL

I AM THE ELECTRIC MEATBALL

KOO KOO JAHJEW...

naughty naughty burn your lfie

burn your life?

translate please

Oh, the two of you are sharing the bottle of goodness bottoms up!

Cheers Tree!

Some of you clearly have too much time on your hands if you are so bored with your lives that you have nothing better to do than troll the BDN comments. Maine...the home of the clam diggers, lobster fisherman, loggers and BDN trolling boneheads! I think we need a new fancy license plate! lol

Replace the state bird with a tablet of oxycontin

Just go up by the Canadian border and wait....

I will say it before Infoman..........HOULTON RIGHT???????????

Yes.I have lots and lots of free time.I occupy a corner office of the statehouse in Augusta.I ramble on about everything from Wing Wah to Chihuahuas.

i am the electric meatball I FEAR NO DOG

Night everyone! I am off to drive through the blueberry barrens looking for wild chihuahuas,on my way home I will stop at wing wah for some bbq minature schnauzer and top it off with a ice cream sundae with Oxys on top in Houlton.

This postal worker sounds nuts.

WC Fields would be proud. The rest of us are apalled.

This should be turned over to the sheriff who should issue a citation to the dog's owner.

I can see being afraid of dogs because you have been bitten, but come on, she used the pepper spray like hair spray, just shoot that stuff everywhere over and over, she must of been having a bad hair day, someone needes to go to pepper spray rehab to get recertified.... Maybe even an eye for an eye, let the little girl pepper spray her in the face.

If the dog was close enough to actually be "attacking", then the oil-based spray and dye would have heavily contaminated at least the lower portion of the postal worker's clothes. I wonder if anyone looked?

Are Carnies allowed to use pepper spray Doug??????

Speaking of Carnies, wheres Pab???? Or Vicki?????

I am in Dexter.Just planted the "electric meatball."Heading for the blueberry barrens,Lincoln and Houlton.

Telefunkinu47, yes they can use pepper spray, but only if it's on another carnies dog or to keep another carnies old lady off of you....

Pab and Vicki aren't carnies?

Will be back in my corner office at the state house by 9am.

There is no reason for the girl to be sprayed. If the dog was aggressive, and the girl came out to control it why spray someone that is trying to solve the problem. And by the way did the button on the sprayer stick down in order to completely douse the dog and child.

beavis - don't look for pups in the parking lot in lincoln.

Well, I guess I am glad that I live where I do. When my dogs got away as I was putting them out one morning, my mail carrier still delivered my mail. And he lives on the same street as I do. When he went home for lunch, and found my dogs playing in HIS yard with HIS family, he called me and told me where they were!! Hopefully that mail-carrier is just one bad apple.

Raysgirl: I am glad you have the mail carrier you do! We like ours as well......glad they aren't all like the one detailed in this article.

don't know where some of you guys come from but let me tell you that i know first hand that a small dog under 10 lbs can cause alot of injury. they are fast and hard to catch and can bite you a half dozen times before you can get them off ya. if i was the postal workers then i would not deliver any mail to anyone that had a dog running in the yard loose. let the owners come to the post office to pick their mail up. you go postal worker but practice up so you don't miss the mark and hit little kids next time.

Centaurmyst 9/15/09 3:34 p.m.~ According to the USPS rules, and what the paper states happened, I'd say the postal carrier is in deep trouble! Her mail satchel is far larger than the Chihuahua for goodness sakes, so had she used it to defend herself (like the rules suggest), she would have been fine.

I don't understand why letter carriers don't carry a little treat bag for instances such as these. Dogs love food and giving them a biscuit is a great way to become their friend.

For those who didn't read the previous article, the little girl was treated by an ambulance crew when this all happened, but apparently the little girl was still having difficulties the following day.

As far as suing... we all have that right and if there is just cause here, then I wouldn't be adverse to the woman doing so. The postal service should be paying the doctor bills for this child and the Chihuahua.

bevis... you got it. Houlton thinks that the universe rotates around it just like the old europeans did with a two class system the rich and the poor with the rich trolling amongst the poor. One notable exception the PO up here is good. The puppy nappers are the daughter of a chief up north working here and its dummy leader here in Houlton. I will be nice not a dummy a mush head.

Spruce92----Evidently you didn't read the whole article. It stated very clearly that the little girl was treated at the scene by responders. And often they advise people to come into the E.R. for a re-check after they have been treated by the responders. I guess a lot of people don't read the whole article. They pick out what they want to see!

well probably the outcome of this incident will be as follows

kid will spend months in therapy

dog might go blind

and dad jeremy will get to retire and stay home to protect his family

i see MONEY MONEY MONEY here

Captainandy: "How dangerous can it be if a hawk or owl can have it for a snack"???

Hawks and owls snack on poisonous snakes, disease infested rodents and vermin. Do you not consider those creatures as dangerous??

The dog was "at large" as it was not controlled by its owner who witnessed the whole incident from inside the house instead of running out to control her dog.

My daughter works for UPS and it is amazing the stories I hear of pet owners and what they do and say regarding their "at large" animals.

Bottom line, if you were watching what was about to happen and what was subsequently happening Mrs. Wintle, why did you not intervene and instead open the door and let your 7 year old daughter run out and get involved in it?? Sounds like poor parenting to me.

Furthermore, the grandstanding is quite sickening. Pepper spray in the eyes on Saturday morning, trouble sleeping, daughter complaining her eyes feel like they have sand in them and the mother waits until Monday afternoon to take the kid to the emergency room? Wouldn't you have done that right away, even though he eyes were treated by emergency personnel at the scene? Why wait more than two full days to seek treatment if the kid is complaining?

Something is more than a little fishy here......

Really why would any mother wait over two days to get treatment when the kid was complaining after emergency first aid at the time of the incident. Why wait???

TO AMAZED: No, obviously you don't understand. A treat bag? Are you really serious? You think in a situation when a dog is attacking that giving them a dog biscuit will make them your friend? YOU ARE DELUSIONAL. Obviously you have never been around very many dogs. Perhaps hikers in wilderness areas should carry treat bags in case of bear attacks too huh?

ronfromdowneast...apparently you don't really understand the law in regards to dogs that are "at large". Essentially, Maine law defines "at large" as being OFF the owners property AND (NOT or) not under the control of a person. In Maine, any dog that is on it's owner's property is NOT considered "at large" under the law. The family was NOT breaking any law, rule or ordinance. The mail carrier, on the other hand, DID break the USPS rules/policy by spraying that pepper spray in the presence of a child. The mail carrier's manual even goes so far as to state that any violations of using that spray near children will be faced with very harsh consequences. I can't recall the exact terms used...but I can go look it up and post it again.

To make a long story short...you're wrong.

Oh yeah...Maine has a pepper spray law, too. There are only certain circumstances in which you are allowed to use it. If you spray someone who isn't attacking or robbing you (or something to this extent) it is considered a Class D crime. Spraying a 7 year old would most likely be considered to meet the criteria for being considered an aggravated offense as well.

Centaurmyst you are assuming that that mail carrier knew the child was there when she started spraying the pepper spray. According to the mother, the child was inside. But then she's changed her story three times, so who knows what really happened. That mail carrier would only have broken USPS policy IF that carrier knew that child was there when she started using the pepper spray.

And I hate to break it to you, but USPS mail carriers, when on duty, do not come under state or local laws. They are only subject to Federal law when on duty.

I am a carrier. I am not afraid of dogs, but I have learned to have a certain amount of "fear" for what they can do and have done to me. I had an incident yesterday on my route. Customer had already gotten one "dog letter" from previous problem. Customer was outside , I got out of truck. Dog came from back. Customer says "don't worry, he has never bitten before." About that time dog lunges at me. "wow, he has never done that before, must be the uniform" If I would have had my spray I would have sprayed the S---t out of that dog and too bad if she got in the way. Better her get a little burning than her have to deal with the PO(or my husband) if her dog would have bitten me. Large or small, a bite is a bite. If the skin is broken we have to report it and have to get a tetnus shot the the dog owner will pay. Adult or child, if I fear I might get bit, I will spray. I try for the nostrils, but when a dog is moving around I just aim and spray.

That little Chihuahua probably deserved a "pepper spray tent".Keep up the good work postal workers!God Bless America!!!

HowardAllred 9/16/09 2: PM~ Excuse me Sir, I am far from delusional. In fact, I've been around a great many dogs, contrary to your belief.

When keeping the lion cages, the keepers are taught to feed the animals before entering the cage. When training animals, food and or treats, are used to encourage the animal to do what the trainer wants it to do, this is called "Classical Conditioning", which was made famous by Pavlov's experiment with dogs. (You may or may not be familiar with Pavlovs Theory Mr. Allred).

When a trainer uses food to entice an animal to do what the trainer wants it to do, the animal has a positive experience. In fact, one individual posting here talked about the UPS man giving treats to the dogs along his route. This UPS driver has never had a negative experience with any dog... point noted.

I wasnt afraid of dogs until this article, now I stay in the shadows frightened of what might be out there. Thanks Caitlin Wintle.

First lets use our melons people.....techinicallity, intent/negligence and common sense. Then there is fear.

Yes, technically the dog/puppy should have been on a leash-out the however this is a five pound chihuahua dog in her own yard taking out the trash. Would a reasonable person think that their chihuahua puppy is phyically capable of maiming the local mailman/woman? I don't think so....at best you might get some brusing and a puncture or two. IF this happens should the owner pay for the injury and the dog put down? YES. Without doubt.

Obvioulsy this mail carrier has issues. First she was truamatized by her last experience of being attacked by a dog- I wonder what kind of dog this was that bit her so viciously that she missed work and recieved stitches. Was she couseled, or stress debriefed and found fit to be put back into this job and this possible situation? Dogs & mailmen have a long history.

Bottom line is this....both parties could have done better. But the mail lady acted irresponsibly.

RCinOK...actually, the video interviews with her have been pretty consistent. It has been the articles written by reporters that have given different accounts from the mother's actual words. At least that is what I have seen.

As for the mail carrier not knowing the child was there...I don't buy that for a second. I am a mother of a little girl close to the age of the one that got sprayed. My daughter would have been screaming at the top of her lungs hysterically and crying if the mail carrier were hurting any animal...even if it weren't our own. Sorry, but there is NO WAY that mail carrier did not know there was a child there. Furthermore...when someone sprays that stuff it's in the direction they are looking. She HAD to see that little girl coming and she STILL kept spraying.

If you were shooting a gun in someone's yard and a bullet went through the window and hit someone you would not get off the hook by saying "Gee, I didn't know anyone was there". Bottom line...the postal carrier was careless, negligent, and showed depraved indifference when she swore and took off without even alerting the mother that her child got sprayed with pepper spray. If it were an accident that carrier would not have sworn and stomped and drove off like a child having a temper tantrum. She would have shown remorse and apologized and stayed around to make sure that little girl was okay.

So you're saying if a USPS mail carrier comes to deliver my mail and decides to break into my house and rob and assault me he or she would be immune to prosecution? Sorry, but that's utterly ridiculous.

Centaurmyst 9/17/09 8:30 AM~ I completely agree with your post.

Stranger things have happened in a court of law... Do you recall the story about the thug who broke into a home through a skylight, fell and was injured? He sued the homeowners and won! Imagine that?!! Our laws have a way of turning on the innocent and rewarding the guilty.

Speaking of breaking in, we just had a robber get killed with a samurai sword by the home owner, the robber just got out on bail too, maybe he should of stayed in jail you think???

I don't have any sympathy for someone trying to break in to a home and getting hurt by falling or the home owner kicking their butt. If the thief is unarmed and trying to run away and the home owner kills them without them actually being in danger of being hurt I think that has to be looked at very closely. In a case like that I might support charges against the homeowner based on the circumstances. Killing someone in self-defense is one thing, but killing them out of vengeance is quite another.

Curious, that with only a small amount of information available (a couple of BDN articles) the 'BDN CHAT ROOM' crowd is then suitably enabled to command the event or the (tangible) effects on the participants.

Two issues I find worth noting, however, are:

(1) the high number of people who seem to think a small dog is harmless (glad that you all haven't been bitten up by one of those little rat dogs). Those who have been spared such unfortunate experience seem to have no clue whatsoever about this.

(2) those who are SO privileged to be able to call on Friday for doctor's appointment on Monday, seem to assume that this family in Dexter can likewise access some such fantasy world (since it can easily take a month or two to get medical appointments, depending on location).

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we REACH it."

""The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we REACH it.""

Thanks Casey Kasum

Centaurmyst The Tort Reform and Protection act of 1962 protects all Federal employees...which USPS employees are considered...from any action they take in the performance of their duties. No, breaking into your house would not be covered...that has nothing to do with them carrying out their assigned duties. Which in this case is delivering mail. That carrier spraying a dog that was attacking, or at least perceived to be attacking, was in the performance of her duties.

Centaurmyst As for the rest of your post, you are assuming. You don't know what happened there anymore than I do. You DO NOT

*Sorry for the previous post, I hit enter by mistake.*

Centaurmyst As for the rest of your post, you are assuming. You don't know what happened there anymore than I do. You DO NOT know if, or how loud, that child was screaming. You DO NOT know if that mail carrier saw the child, until the child grabbed the dog. You said the mail carrier "kept spraying." Those cans of pepper spray are very small. Only about the size of a bottle of cologne. They have about 15 seconds of spray in them. And that's assuming that it doesn't clog up before then, which they are known to do. You have no more idea of what the REAL facts are than I do. But, I am at least willing to withhold my judgment until I have hear both sides of the story. You, and several others on here, have already tried and convicted that mail carrier as if you were there and witnessed it yourself.

RCinOK...Federal employees are NOT protected from criminal charges when they break the law. It appears that this mail carrier DID break the law when she sprayed the 7 year old girl. The little girl was not assaulting her or trying to rob her. Spraying her was a CRIME in the state of Maine. The mail carrier is NOT immune to prosecution.

I saw a picture of their house...long driveway...there wasn't an angle the child could have approached the mail carrier where she would not have been seen. Also...no decent person swears, stomps and storms off after they have just sprayed pepper spray at a 7 year old child on accident. They only do that when they don't give a rat's patootie, are angry and have absolutely no remorse for what they have done. Had she actually behaved differently AFTER spraying that little girl I would give her the benefit of the doubt. Sorry...but taking off like she did indicates guilt. I compare it to a hit and run accident. If someone gets into a bad accident and they take off it usually means they KNOW they did something wrong...like are driving drunk or something.

I do believe you are wrong on that. I was a mail carrier for eight and a half years. We were told that we were protected from anything resulting from our performance of our duties. We had the right of way on all roads, were allowed to park where necessary, even no parking zones, and so on. I seem to remember being told that a police officer couldn't, legally, pull us over and write us a ticket. That's considered interfering with a US mail carrier, which is a felony. I could be wrong, it's been more than a few years since I went through orientation and training. But, even if not, it would still only be a crime if it was intentional. Which there is no proof that it was. At least none that I have seen. As I mentioned previously, the only witness is the mother. She's given three different versions of events. Any trained police officer will tell you that the first version of events given by a witness are usually the most truthful. Maybe she's gotten her story figured out by the time the TV cameras show up. But by then she could be smelling lawsuits and seeing dollar signs. There's always two sides to a story, and we've only heard from one side.

When people are confronted with a threat, perceived or real, they can develop tunnel vision. It happens to police officers, people in combat, all the time. You are so focused in on what is threatening you that you do not notice anything else. And people do swear all the time when under stress. It's a normal human reaction. But I'm sure none of you brave computer posters would ever react like humans would you? You would react like John Wayne, or Superman, in a stressful situation wouldn't you? All computer posters make the correct decision and take the correct actions when faced with a threatening situation. Of course that decision and action is coming from the safety of their computer seat.

I strongly suspect whoever trained you didn't know what they were talking about. Postal carriers get arrested, charged and convicted of crimes while delivering mail all the time. The charges I've read about in the media include rape, cruelty/abuse of animals, prostitution, drug dealing, theft, breaking and entering and driving under the influence.

As for being confronted with a threat...used to live that every day when I was married to someone who used to beat the slobbering snots out of me on a regular basis. I always fought back...and I had young children too. Not once did I ever accidentally hurt one of my kids in the process of defending myself. If that mail carrier was SO traumatized by the previous dog bite that she was unable to keep her wits about her in a stressful situation she should NOT have been delivering mail. It was her responsibility to seek treatment/help for any anxiety or issues relating to her ability to do her job safely.

I didn't say you could commit just any crime and get away with it. What I am talking about is something that arrives directly from the execution of the your assigned duties. In this case, using pepper spray to defend your self while you are delivering mail. Those other crimes that you mentioned have nothing to do with delivering the mail. As I mentioned we were allowed to park in no parking zones, fire zones, and so on. You are either misunderstanding what I am saying, or misinterpreting it.

You are again assuming that she had a choice in her job duties. She probably didn't. You don't just change jobs in the Postal Service. They will tell you flat out, deliver or quit. It's easy for you to tell someone to just quit. But we all have bills to pay. And 57 is not a good age to start considering career changes. Maybe if she was Superwoman like you she would have fended off the dog and not hurt the child.

9 paragraphs of print defending the reason the postal worker would be worried about a dog and dog bites. But no justification for spraying a child with pepper spray. This person needs to be fired and charged with assault.