Vicious dogs, registration/insurance, firearms, and the USPS

[Gun Manufacturers]

So, I've just been released from the hospital, after being mauled yesterday by what looked like a great dane (it could have been a mix). I was just sitting in my postal vehicle, on the side of the road when this dog ran up to the truck, poked his head through the open window, and grabbed my arm. Unfortunately, my seatbelt was off, and he pulled me out of the truck and away from my dog spray. I was able to get several good kicks in (I was wearing my work boots, and they really did some damage to the dog), and made it back to the truck, where I grabbed the dog spray. After giving the dog a good spray (and having it do nothing, since it was 6 years out of date), I retreated to the back of the truck where he couldn't get to me and called the police. 83 stitches and an overnight stay at the hospital later, I am home. Of course, the dog owner told my postmaster that I provoked the dog, who was protecting his property, and that he was going to sue me and the USPS for the dog's injuries.

Now my questions to you are, should owners of vicious dogs be required to register them/put up signage in their yards? Should they be required to have insurance, to protect anyone that may be mauled? Should the USPS allow postal carriers to carry firearms to protect themselves from vicious dogs? Should the USPS have some liability for not providing me with effective dog spray?

[Gun Manufacturers]

Armed posties?

Murica

Shouldn't I be able to defend myself? The dog spray I was given had no effect, and the physical defense I put up offered only a temporary stop to the attack.

[Jute]

Armed posties?

Murica

Shouldn't I be able to defend myself? The dog spray I was given had no effect, and the physical defense I put up offered only a temporary stop to the attack.

Then how do postmen in other countries cope?

[Imperializt Russia]

The irony is that USPS personnel will be better trained in the appropriate use of firearms than many of America's police officers are.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Aggressive dogs should be kept under control by the owner so that the cannot attack people. Pretty sure in the UK the dog would be put down for such an attack and the owner fined. I would favour all dogs having to be chipped.

[Imperializt Russia]

Shouldn't I be able to defend myself? The dog spray I was given had no effect, and the physical defense I put up offered only a temporary stop to the attack.

The dog spray had no effect because you didn't keep it close and it was out of date. How is a gun any different?

Much like a firearm, dog spray is issued equipment. It is the responsibility of the USPS to ensure that it is in date and effective, much like it is an employer's responsibility to ensure that fire extinguishers are in date and effective.

It was kept close, until he was dragged from the vehicle.

[Arcanda]

So, I've just been released from the hospital, after being mauled yesterday by what looked like a great dane (it could have been a mix). I was just sitting in my postal vehicle, on the side of the road when this dog ran up to the truck, poked his head through the open window, and grabbed my arm. Unfortunately, my seatbelt was off, and he pulled me out of the truck and away from my dog spray. I was able to get several good kicks in (I was wearing my work boots, and they really did some damage to the dog), and made it back to the truck, where I grabbed the dog spray. After giving the dog a good spray (and having it do nothing, since it was 6 years out of date), I retreated to the back of the truck where he couldn't get to me and called the police. 83 stitches and an overnight stay at the hospital later, I am home. Of course, the dog owner told my postmaster that I provoked the dog, who was protecting his property, and that he was going to sue me and the USPS for the dog's injuries.

Now my questions to you are, should owners of vicious dogs be required to register them/put up signage in their yards? Should they be required to have insurance, to protect anyone that may be mauled? Should the USPS allow postal carriers to carry firearms to protect themselves from vicious dogs? Should the USPS have some liability for not providing me with effective dog spray?

Yes to everything except the armed postmen thing.Maybe a non-lethal electric nightstick to scare the dog away instead.

[Gun Manufacturers]

Shouldn't I be able to defend myself? The dog spray I was given had no effect, and the physical defense I put up offered only a temporary stop to the attack.

Then how do postmen in other countries cope?

I do not know. If not firearms, what SHOULD be allowed? In the hospital, I mentioned getting bear spray to carry with me, but my roommate said that because it's formulated to fend off a much larger WILD animal, that it could open me up to legitimate charges when used against a domesticated animal like a dog.

[L Ron Cupboard]

I don't fancy arming a bunch of low educated people in a profession that spawned the term "going postal"

I've known some extremely highly educated postal workers. I suspect the 'going postal' thing arose because of lousy working conditions.

[Nazi Flower Power]

So, I've just been released from the hospital, after being mauled yesterday by what looked like a great dane (it could have been a mix). I was just sitting in my postal vehicle, on the side of the road when this dog ran up to the truck, poked his head through the open window, and grabbed my arm. Unfortunately, my seatbelt was off, and he pulled me out of the truck and away from my dog spray. I was able to get several good kicks in (I was wearing my work boots, and they really did some damage to the dog), and made it back to the truck, where I grabbed the dog spray. After giving the dog a good spray (and having it do nothing, since it was 6 years out of date), I retreated to the back of the truck where he couldn't get to me and called the police. 83 stitches and an overnight stay at the hospital later, I am home. Of course, the dog owner told my postmaster that I provoked the dog, who was protecting his property, and that he was going to sue me and the USPS for the dog's injuries.

Now my questions to you are, should owners of vicious dogs be required to register them/put up signage in their yards?

It would certainly be considerate to warn people.

Should they be required to have insurance, to protect anyone that may be mauled?

They should be required to compensate anyone who is mauled, but they should have a choice whether that is done through insurance or they just do it on their own without an insurance company being involved. Dog owners are responsible for their dogs, but I'm not a fan of forcing people to buy insurance.

Should the USPS allow postal carriers to carry firearms to protect themselves from vicious dogs?

Depends on the local laws and gun culture.

Should the USPS have some liability for not providing me with effective dog spray?

Yes.

[Imperializt Russia]

I've known some extremely highly educated postal workers. I suspect the 'going postal' thing arose because of lousy working conditions.

It arose because of 20 different spree killings by posties in the USPS. You may know some extremely highly educated posties but that's hardly the norm

20 killing "sprees" in a service that employs over half a million people isn't "the norm" either.

[Gun Manufacturers]

Much like a firearm, dog spray is issued equipment. It is the responsibility of the USPS to ensure that it is in date and effective, much like it is an employer's responsibility to ensure that fire extinguishers are in date and effective.

It was kept close, until he was dragged from the vehicle.

How is that different to a gun?

A firearm would be on my hip, not clipped to the dashboard like the dog spray is.

[L Ron Cupboard]

I've known some extremely highly educated postal workers. I suspect the 'going postal' thing arose because of lousy working conditions.

It arose because of 20 different spree killings by posties in the USPS.

That doesn't rule out lousy working conditions being at the root of the spree killings.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Wouldn't being able to boycott the houses of people with dogs that attack postal workers be more effective? Make them come and collect their mail.

[Imperializt Russia]

Much like a firearm, dog spray is issued equipment. It is the responsibility of the USPS to ensure that it is in date and effective, much like it is an employer's responsibility to ensure that fire extinguishers are in date and effective.

It was kept close, until he was dragged from the vehicle.

How is that different to a gun?

I would question why a "holster" was not issued for the spray (I don't know if we're talking a purse-sized mace can or some industrial spray can) or why it wasn't kept in a pocket. I assume one was not expecting to be literally dragged from a vehicle by a dog.

As my inverted commas probably indicated, a holster could be provided by an employee or by the USPS.
Any USPS person issued a firearm is, IIRC, not a government employee (the USPS is no longer fully state-owned, but I'm not American and don't understand the situation) and certainly not law enforcement. So they would be required to have either a concealed or open carry permit. Which often involves some level of training to receive.

[Gun Manufacturers]

20 killing "sprees" in a service that employs over half a million people isn't "the norm" either.

Those are the people that will be armed. Fuck that. Adding more guns, entirely unnecessarily as per OPs story, isn't making the situation safer.

Why were you kept overnight OP?

By the time the doctor was finished with dressing my wounds, it was pretty late, and they wanted to keep me overnight for observation. There was some numbness in my fingers (before the anesthetic), and the doctor wanted to see if there was any nerve damage, or if it was just shock.

EDIT: Pain meds are kicking in, I'm gonna catch some Zzzzz's.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Those are the people that will be armed. Fuck that. Adding more guns, entirely unnecessarily as per OPs story, isn't making the situation safer.

Why were you kept overnight OP?

By the time the doctor was finished with dressing my wounds, it was pretty late, and they wanted to keep me overnight for observation. There was some numbness in my fingers (before the anesthetic), and the doctor wanted to see if there was any nerve damage, or if it was just shock.

Christ US hospitals really do scam the fuck out of their patients.

[Imperializt Russia]

20 killing "sprees" in a service that employs over half a million people isn't "the norm" either.

Those are the people that will be armed. Fuck that. Adding more guns, entirely unnecessarily as per OPs story, isn't making the situation safer.

Why were you kept overnight OP?

Basing "no, posties shouldn't have guns" on the back of "a literal handful of millions of current and ex-posties have snapped" is literally the worst logic ever.

[Saiwania]

I'm inclined to believe that it would be better for most of the more vicious dog breeds to simply be brought into extinction or heavily limited. A pit bull or Rottweiler has almost no useful purpose and is more of a liability for any prospective owners. But I'd make an exception for German Shepherds because that is a smarter breed that can be trained and finds such favor for police/military applications.

[Zeinbrad]

By the time the doctor was finished with dressing my wounds, it was pretty late, and they wanted to keep me overnight for observation. There was some numbness in my fingers (before the anesthetic), and the doctor wanted to see if there was any nerve damage, or if it was just shock.

Christ US hospitals really do scam the fuck out of their patients.

I don't see how he was scammed.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Christ US hospitals really do scam the fuck out of their patients.

I don't see how he was scammed.

There's nothing in the descriptions given requiring the expense of an overnight stay. It's overly defensive, profit making medicine.

[Dyakovo]

So, I've just been released from the hospital, after being mauled yesterday by what looked like a great dane (it could have been a mix). I was just sitting in my postal vehicle, on the side of the road when this dog ran up to the truck, poked his head through the open window, and grabbed my arm. Unfortunately, my seatbelt was off, and he pulled me out of the truck and away from my dog spray. I was able to get several good kicks in (I was wearing my work boots, and they really did some damage to the dog), and made it back to the truck, where I grabbed the dog spray. After giving the dog a good spray (and having it do nothing, since it was 6 years out of date), I retreated to the back of the truck where he couldn't get to me and called the police. 83 stitches and an overnight stay at the hospital later, I am home. Of course, the dog owner told my postmaster that I provoked the dog, who was protecting his property, and that he was going to sue me and the USPS for the dog's injuries.

Now my questions to you are, should owners of vicious dogs be required to register them/put up signage in their yards? ¹ Should they be required to have insurance, to protect anyone that may be mauled?[color=#00000ff]²[/color] Should the USPS allow postal carriers to carry firearms to protect themselves from vicious dogs?³ Should the USPS have some liability for not providing me with effective dog spray?⁴

1: Yes to registration.
2: Yes.
3: No.
4: No.

[Imperializt Russia]

Christ US hospitals really do scam the fuck out of their patients.

I don't see how he was scammed.

FS is a physician of some sort. I assume she disagrees with the need to have been kept in for observation, which of course is additional healthcare cost.

[Zeinbrad]

I don't see how he was scammed.

There's nothing in the descriptions given requiring the expense of an overnight stay. It's overly defensive, profit making medicine.

I'm sure insurance pays for that. Also, it seems he stayed for medical reasons and because it was getting late. Doctors are human too and need sleep.

[Imperializt Russia]

So, I've just been released from the hospital, after being mauled yesterday by what looked like a great dane (it could have been a mix). I was just sitting in my postal vehicle, on the side of the road when this dog ran up to the truck, poked his head through the open window, and grabbed my arm. Unfortunately, my seatbelt was off, and he pulled me out of the truck and away from my dog spray. I was able to get several good kicks in (I was wearing my work boots, and they really did some damage to the dog), and made it back to the truck, where I grabbed the dog spray. After giving the dog a good spray (and having it do nothing, since it was 6 years out of date), I retreated to the back of the truck where he couldn't get to me and called the police. 83 stitches and an overnight stay at the hospital later, I am home. Of course, the dog owner told my postmaster that I provoked the dog, who was protecting his property, and that he was going to sue me and the USPS for the dog's injuries.

Now my questions to you are, should owners of vicious dogs be required to register them/put up signage in their yards? ¹ Should they be required to have insurance, to protect anyone that may be mauled?[color=#00000ff]²[/color] Should the USPS allow postal carriers to carry firearms to protect themselves from vicious dogs?³ Should the USPS have some liability for not providing me with effective dog spray?⁴

1: Yes to registration.
2: Yes.
3: No.
4: No.

If his employer provided him with equipment for his safety, and that equipment was defective, why should they not face liability for that failure to adequately provide for his safety?