Posted on 12/23/2021 7:18:55 AM PST by real saxophonist
Dog owners claim UPS driver ran over pet on their property, offered a fraction of vet bill
by: Rogelio Mares
Dec 18, 2021
LAPORTE, Colo. (KDVR) — The Schimack family lives on a property in Laporte, north of Fort Collins. It was on that property they say their dog, Gunny, was run over by a UPS truck.
“The dog appears to have been on the driver’s side of the truck,” Steve Schimack said.
After a UPS delivery on Oct. 21, he said Gunny was left with traumatic injuries to her body.
“She got run over by the rear wheel,” Schimack said.
She was taken to a veterinarian where it was determined her injuries likely came from being struck by a vehicle.
“They got her stabilized and then ultimately, they had to amputate the leg,” Schimack said.
No other vehicles drove onto his property, according to Schimack, the day Gunny was injured.
The fees to get her back to health were tens of thousands of dollars.
“Between about $28,000 and $32,000,” Schimack said.
Considering how he suspected she was hit and weighing whether to get her treated was a quick decision for Schimack.
“You’re in the position where I had two choices, I could either taker her in or put her down. I couldn’t put her down, it wasn’t her fault,” Schimack said.
FOX31 reached out to UPS for comment on the situation, they provided this statement: “We are saddened to hear about the injuries sustained by the Schimack’s dog, and we are investigating the situation.”
Schimack said he received an offer from the delivery company’s insurance carrier that wasn’t enough to cover Gunny’s medical bills.
“Five thousand dollars, as a courtesy, those were his exact words,” Schimack said.
He has no ill will toward the driver, In fact, Schimack said the driver gave their dogs treats regularly.
UPS offered no elaboration on the extent of their own investigation
28K seems excessive costs. To do knee surgery on a lab is like 5K. So to amputate a leg and examine before surgery, treatment, etc no way does that cost 28K.
Let me guess.
The dog was in their driveway (unattended, off the lease and running free).
A vehicle pulling into your driveway is not an unforeseen phenomenon. In fact, if you are ordering items to be delivered to your house, it’s expected.
I know dogs in the country run free. But, a lot of them also get hit by cars.
Seems high to me too. I think fixing my broken leg was about 33,000.
I was in the same position with the pet ones. However we think it was a hawk or other large bird that attacked the cat. The vet said they could amputate the affected leg for about $3,800 but we all knew his quality of life and being forced to stay inside would be horrible for him. I agree something doesn’t jive with the price spent on this animal
Keep control of your pets. It’s your responsibility to keep your pets from harm, even on your own property. You willingly agree to allow a stranger on your property when you have packages delivered by a third party. UPS shouldn’t be liable for anything here.
“No other vehicles drove onto his property...”
Notice how they are spinning this: drove onto his property.
You mean drove up your driveway????????
They way they are spinning this, they imply that the driver was doing something crazy or nefarious. “Why, he drove all over our front yard, then around back of the house through our vegetable garden, and then he hit our dog before he delivered our package!”
The driver pulled into your driveway, delivered a package, then pulled out of your driveway.
At some point, your unleashed dog went car chasing and got himself hit.
Was the dog indoors when it got run over?
La porte is out on the edge of nowhere, lots of crazies live out there.
Those that were hiding from the world, and those that are hiding from the world while working remotely.
Spending that kinda money on an animal is something a lot of people couldn’t fathom.
That’s a lot of beans and rice.
“Between about $28,000 and $32,000,
Time to put the dog down.
The dogs, one ran out between parked cars, nothing I could do. Other one was out in the county at night, ran right in front of me, again nothing I could do.
I didn't get in trouble for either one, because there was literally nothing I could do.
My vet wanted $8,000 per leg when my little dog tore both his CCLs - phoned around and it was about the same.
Depends on where you live - talked to a vet in Montana that does the procedure for $1500.
Agree. Vet fees are different in different states but I had my old Jack Russell’s knee repaired for around $1000. They didn’t do the TPLO like on big dogs. It was more the “fishing line” repair since he was only 18 pounds.
This might have something to do with it...
In fact, Schimack said the driver gave their dogs treats regularly.
They didn't fix the dog's leg. They amputated.
I often tell family members, whenever they report a pain in their leg or arm, or in their head, that I'd be happy to amputate for free!
Dang.
Lot more than a broken/amputated hind leg going on.
This is why my whole yard is fenced and the front yard, where deliveries happen, is wholly separate from the yards where the dogs can get to.
I have fences within fences and they’re never out unattended.
Gruesome injuries, for sure.
No idea what all that would cost in that state.
And the UPS truck would have heard some whining or yelping.
I would speculate that someone else DID turn around in their drive. I'd be looking at video cameras in the area.
And does the UPS truck have backup sounds?
I know a lot of mail carriers have dog treats, and several people at my Home Depot did, too. PetSmart was 2 doors down, and people brought their dogs into THD all the time.
The owners are super stupid. Keep your damn dog on a leash when you know a delivery is coming.
I have 8 screws in my leg, so I don't think I'll be calling you anytime soon. 8~)
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