Posted on 07/15/2011 5:04:36 PM PDT by csvset
VALLEJO, Calif. -- Residents in one Vallejo neighborhood started seeing mail arrive again Tuesday, which signaled the end of a several-day service suspension imposed on them after a mailman was spooked by a local Chihuahua.
The suspension began last Thursday when Mocha, a 1-and-a-1/2-year-old Chihuahua, ran up to a mailman who walking his route on Vervais Ave. and circled the carrier a few times, according to the dog’s owner.
The dog’s owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said the mailman became upset and announced he was putting the neighborhood’s mail delivery on hold.
The following day, residents on the 500 block of Vervais Ave. said a letter arrived in their mailboxes telling them that home delivery would not resume until the dog was secured on a leash or in some other fashion. Until then, neighbors would have to go to the local post office for their mail.
All of the residents on the block in question have their mailboxes on the side of their houses, so having to go down to the post office and wait in line to get their mail has not been something that residents have embraced.
“I come in here from the city and I have to rush in and get to the post office before it closes,” said neighbor Harrison McDowell. “So yeah, it makes a big difference.”
“The whole neighborhood shouldn't be held hostage,” said McDowell.
Augustine Ruiz, a U.S. Post Service spokesperson, told KTVU Wednesday that there are more than 5,000 carrier-versus-dog incidents a year nationwide and as far as the USPS is concerned, “if it has teeth, it can bite.” And if a carrier doesn't feel safe it doesn't matter how big or small the dog is; a loose dog is considered dangerous and until that problem is addressed they will not deliver mail.
Mocha’s owner said she “surrendered” the dog, who had lived on the block for just a few months before the incident, to have mail service restored to her neighborhood. She said the postmaster came Tuesday to confirm the dog was gone, and then the mail was delivered later that day.
Lets send 1001 Chihuahuas to Washington DC.
Pretty cowardly, even by mailman standards. When I was a kid, our mailman had a pack of dogs following him around his route every day.
Those little Pups have a lot more Spunk than our Reps. I think I am getting one.
I would punt that little ankle biter into the next zipcode. Flame away, there is no use for chihuahuas. A real dog doesn’t weigh less than 30 or so lbs. My smallest is 50lbs.
Too bad there are no coyotes/bobcats in that hood.
When I was a kid, we had a chihuahua, and he was the meanest dog you ever saw. All of my friends were terrified of him, because he bit them all. And the mailman was very adept at slipping the mail through the slot without letting his fingers enter the forbidden zone.He wanted to end his shift with all ten of them.
Case closed. I am getting one. They Kick Ass. And I never thought I would want one. But now. Big Heart in a small package.
any excuse not to work!
There is a simple solution to these rats that think they are dogs... its called a foot thrust forward in imitation of an NFL field goal kicker...
They would run off that Cyote. They ran off a Cougar after a little Kid out in California lately.
They might be mean but they are dumb. My neighbors chihuahua tried to mate my female Springer when she was in heat. The little dummy couldn't figure out why she kept looking at him like he was an idiot.
Chihuahuas do not know how big they aren’t. But neither do minpins, and for appearance, I’d rather have a minpin, they’re more graceful and athletic, prey driven, and bred to fight (rats).
My aunt had a mean chihuahua as well....I have always loved dogs but that dog was mean.....one day I didn’t see it and I sat on little Mr. Nasty....I didn’t get hurt and neither the dog but I did carry a secret smile......
One of my minpins was being dive bombed by a bluejay.
She took him out mid flight.
It is amazing to see some of these big bad FReepers bragging about how they would punt a little dog.
I’d like to see you try it.
I beat your ass until your boyfriend wouldn’t have a use for it.
Of course my pit who watches over them would probably cripple you first. No problem, I’d call him off after five or ten minutes.
My minpin raised (housebroke, taught to sit, taught to climb stairs onto the bed) our mastiff puppy. She was 7 yo when he came to the house, she was 7 lbs, he was 30, at 7 weeks old. She was the boss for quite a while, and they were always great pals.
One day I heard a mouse in our country place, it sounded like it was behind the curtain. Bebe heard it too, so we went over and I lifted up the curtain corner, a mouse appeared, and Bebe grabbed it, all within less than a second. She stood there looking at me with a fat gray mouse in her jaws, as if asking, “Now what?”
I heard that they were originally bred from dachshund and terriers to keep German kitchens free of mice/rats. I believe it.
It is just doing the job that the American dogs won’t do. If you want it done right, hire a Mexican.
In defense of Chihuahuas, if you weighed three pounds and were bred to be et, you’d probably be in a state of permanent hysteria, too.
On the local news yesterday (KCAL CH9 LA area) they showed video of two “would-be” robbers caught on video entering a business to rob it. One of the robbers had a shotgun, but they were chased off by a little Chihuahua who was nipping at their heels.
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