USPS stops delivering mail to neighborhood after mail carrier is attacked by dog

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Paulette Williams called the 19 News recovery team after a USPS mailman was attacked by her neighbor’s dog.

“The guy came and grabbed him, they had to strangle the dog to get him off the postman because the postman was screaming come get your dog, come get your dog,” a neighbor said.

Williams lives on East 114th St. in Cleveland. She tells 19 News that this is not the first time the dog has bitten someone.

“He came straight at me and was very aggressive,” Williams said.

Since the incident, the USPS has stopped delivering mail to everyone on the street. For nearly a month, Williams and her neighbors had to collect their mail from a post office about 15 minutes away.

“It’s like we’re being punished for what they did, and that’s not right,” a neighbor said.

Williams and others expressed frustration with the new arrangement, saying many of them don’t have cars and it’s hard to get a ride.

“Please help us get our mail and get rid of that dog on the street,” Williams said.

The 19 News Troubleshooter team called the city and contacted the USPS.

According to the city, charges were filed on September 7 and the dog was classified as a Level 2 threat.

This means that for the next 5 years, owners must comply with certain rules.

As for USPS, they sent us a statement saying they will not return to the area until they feel safe.

“The safety of our delivery workers and the goal of providing excellent customer service are both paramount to who we are as an organization. Due to a dog attack, the Postal Service suspended delivery to this area and the dog continues to roam the neighborhood unrestrained. Management has notified the owner and delivery will resume when it is safe for the postman.

Aggressive and unrestrained animals are a serious problem. A bite or a fall can cause serious injury; they are painful but they can be avoided. We ask all customers to keep their dogs tethered during normal delivery hours to protect postman safety.

Dog owners are responsible for controlling their dogs. The best way to protect everyone from dog bites is to recognize and promote responsible pet ownership. Most people know the approximate time their mail carrier arrives each day and having their dog secured when the carrier approaches their property for delivery will minimize interactions with the dog carrier.

– Naddia Dhalai, USPS Corporate Communications

When I asked what the process was for deeming the neighborhood safe again and raised residents’ concerns about travel time, the USPS gave us this answer.

“As I said, this is a serious security issue, and it has not been resolved. When this happens, mail will resume.

There is no other post office where customers can collect their mail. We regret this inconvenience; however the safety of our employees is our top priority.”

– Naddia Dhalai, USPS Corporate Communications

Leaving neighbors in a difficult situation and penalized for an act with which they had nothing to do.

Copyright 2022 WOIO. All rights reserved.