My Dog Bit the Fed-X Driver - Story @11

[asphaltgambler]

So back in December the Fed-X driver (woman) is delivering a package on Saturday (am) and my dog is on a 25' leash/chain out front of the garage. I hear the truck pull up and go out to intercept package from said driver before she is with-in distance of my dog.

I have my dog by the hand as she gives me the package. I told her to let him sniff her hand (slowly) and all seems well. She talks to and pets him. After a few she turns to walk away and he snaps at the back of her hand and breaks the skin.

I scold him and then profusely apologize. The cut on her hand is enough to cover with a band-aid; but She chooses to go to the E-room; which I agree with. My dog has had all his shots, but anyway...............................

Later she calls me to tell me that the e-room people wanted to know my address to turn it over to animal control to get the dog. She refuses. Turns out that if she had down this they would automatically put the dog down no questions asked.

She turns the hospital bill over to her insurance and they refuse to pay citing that my homeowners should pay. She calls me and I say "no problem"

I call my insurance and the agent said if I file a claim, they would pay BUT I would have to get rid of my dog OR they would cancel my homeowners. The breed or size of the dog makes no difference on this issue. WTF?

[HardDrive]

Well, not to side with the insurance guys, but dogs that bite people are bad news. If there was another dangerous condition on your property, like a barbed wire fence, that had injured folks on your property, they would probably ask you take it out, or get an additional rider.

[stomachmonkey]

Pay out of pocket.

Keep dog.

Be more careful in the future.

[vash]

nice fed EX driver. is the bill crazy huge? can you pay out of pocket?

good luck, i hope this works out for you. i got bitten last year by a doberman. crazy old lady insisted that i see the puppies. i reconized the behavior from mommydoby, and declined. she insisted and dragged me in.."they are soo cute". i felt the teeth on my shin...*****! i was pissed.

[JavaBrewer]

My community (85 single family homes) has a HOA that has to approve all dogs - the by-laws outline that commonly aggressive/dangerous breeds will not be allowed. Prior to living here our GSD mauled a smaller dog and my homeowners insurance picked up the $1500 vet bill but warned that if we insisted on keeping the dog our rates would be affected. A few months later our GSD growled at a family friends child...that made my next decision too easy.

[The Gaijin]

These drivers have a hundred stops a day. Hundreds in a weeks and how many thousand a year?? If 1/10th of 1% of 1% of all dogs they cross paths with bite them, that is way too many.

People should be more careful with their pets - or otherwise pick up their packages at a "mailboxes etc" type store..

[Zeke]

Why didn't FedEx workers' comp pay? Something is all wrong here. I don't know the laws in VA, but most dog bite cases involve a quarantine for the first offense. You don't want a 2nd.

The quarantine would be kind of a moot point by this date. I see quite a few loop holes here and I'd take a position on this to the point of speaking to a attorney. Don't lay down for these people.

Hell, call the SPCA and PETA folks for advice. I'd create a small storm if some douche nozzle said a pet of mine had to be destroyed over a minor incident like that.

Time for a new insurance company? Mine wouldn't get another payment.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

These drivers have a hundred stops a day. Hundreds in a weeks and how many thousand a year?? If 1/10th of 1% of 1% of all dogs they cross paths with bite them, that is way too many.

People should be more careful with their pets - or otherwise pick up their packages at a "mailboxes etc" type store..

Boy did you not read his post. The driver should not have approached the dog, much less reach for him, invitation or not. The dog was on a chain and the owner came out to intercept the delivery. WTF else can you do?

And, I don't even like dogs, but I seem to be around them all the time.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Pay out of pocket.

Keep dog.

Be more careful in the future.

Probably the way to go if you want to keep the dog. I'm sure you're plenty attached to the dog and all, but I got to wonder about a dog that bites someone after meeting them and getting petted. Consider this an opportunity to decide what to do before something more serious happens. You may want to put a high value on someone else's future welfare. And I wonder if this incident could figure in to your liability if there was a future incident.

[MOMO3.2]

I am a dog LOVER, but honestly, did you not have any concern that your dog might snap at a stranger like that? If so, you messed up BIG TIME and got away with one. You are lucky the UPS person was so nice.

If on the hand your dog completely surpirised you by his willingness to snap at someone, that was some really bad luck for the UPS driver. But, you are still one lucky mofo, because, NOW you know your dog will bite. They did not "put your dog down". And, you are not dealing with a big a$$ law suite!

Pay the bill and buy her dinner for not giving your address to the authorities. You are one LUCKY mofo in this case no matter how it is sliced.

Mike

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by milt

Boy did you not read his post. The driver should not have approached the dog, much less reach for him, invitation or not. The dog was on a chain and the owner came out to intercept the delivery. WTF else can you do?

"I have my dog by the hand as she gives me the package. I told her to let him sniff her hand (slowly) and all seems well. She talks to and pets him. After a few she turns to walk away and he snaps at the back of her hand and breaks the skin.."



Hey, I am not busting on asphalt. I am sure it is otherwise a great dog, and he is a caring owner..

I am just pointing out how many opportunities for things to go wrong. All seemed well, until it was not.. If you have a biting dog - it should not be allowed near anybody.

That and the FedEx driver should steer way clear of all dogs.. She could get in trouble with management for an incident like that. Safety is #1 for those folks..

I forgot the lessons I learned as a driver. Friends *%#$ mutt bit me last summer!

[teenerted1]

our mailman wont deliver it there is a dog in any yard. front fenced and the mail slot is in my front door. fedex and UPS will leave at the back door. if i am around front when any delivery shows the dog goes on the leash or in house/ yard

just common scence

[JKelley]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Pay out of pocket.

Keep dog.

Be more careful in the future.

What he said is the best advice. If your insurance company pays the claim it will be reported to C.L.U.E. So if you are dropped by your current company and you TRY to go to another, the new company will see the dog bite claim on your record. Then you will have to show proof the dog was destroyed. Giving the dog to someone else will not help. They will want to see something from a vet that states the dog has been destroyed. If you keep a dog with a bite history, you become fully liable for you vicious dog. If the state finds out your dog will be considered a vicious animal.

[austin552]

He wouldn't have bit her if you let him sniff her cratch first.

[Gogar]

+1 pay the bill out of pocket if you want to keep your dog, and call it an expensive lesson.

[fingpilot]

I'd FedEx the dog to the insurance agent.

Win-Win... problem solved.

[air-cool-me]

classic!

[aigel]

I strongly recommend paying the bill yourself and watching your dog very carefully in the future. It is not normal what the dog did - likely it will bite someone else under similar circumstances.

George

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

My community (85 single family homes) has a HOA that has to approve all dogs - the by-laws outline that commonly aggressive/dangerous breeds will not be allowed.

Years ago, I read about an HOA that wouldn't let Pit Bulls in the HOA, someone had one, and the HOA tried to force them to get rid of the dog. Went to court, the defense brought in a AKC expert and asked him if it was a Pit Bull, he said let me see the papers on the dog. No papers=mutt. May look like a Pit Bull, but w/o papers it's not.

Pay the ER bill and train your dog, or get rid of it. A dog that bites can cost you your home/bank account.

[Wickd89]

What kind of dog is it??