Mail delivery for residents in the 1500 block of Cumberland Avenue, which had been suspended after dogs reportedly attacked a mailman last week, will resume on Saturday.
Their mail was suspended after a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was attacked by two pit bull dogs on April 21 and was taken to the emergency room for treatment, according to USPS Spokeswoman Arlene Sanchez. She added suspension of mail delivery is a serious action USPS takes in very limited circumstances.
Julie Vasquez who lives on Cumberland Avenue said she has not received her mail since Monday. Her mail is usually placed on a mail receptacle located next to her front door. On Friday morning, when Vasquez went to the post office to inquire about her mail, she was asked to sign a letter agreeing to choose a different mail delivery option moving forward, which would be different than the current one. The options included, renting a post office box or installing a curbside mail box in front of her home.
“I don’t feel like the whole block should have to not receive mail, and be penalized because of one person’s dog. It just doesn’t feel right,” said Vasquez.
After News Channel 25 contacted USPS about this situation, Sanchez issued a response saying the mail delivery service would resume on Saturday, April 30.
She said one of the dogs involved was quarantined by Animal Control but the second dog had not been captured. Animal Control has been supporting in an effort to capture the dog, but it has been unsuccessful. Since there was no sign of the second pit bull, the mail delivery will resume Saturday, according to Sanchez.
“We apologize to the customers who were inconvenienced by this action, but safety of our employees is paramount,” said Sanchez in a statement.
According to Sanchez, from nips and bites to actual attacks, violent dog behavior continues to be a threat to USPS employees. In 2015, 6,549 Postal Service Employees were victimized by dogs.
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