It’s a bitter rivalry.
When it comes to dogs and mailmen, the animosity is on par with Auburn-Alabama, Ford-Chevy or Coke-Pepsi.
But local postal carriers, both in the city of Russellville and rural routes in Franklin County, have experienced several dog bites recently, and Russellville postmaster Timothy Eli is reaching out to residents for assistance.
“If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, you should place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door,” Eli said. “Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.”
Eli also recommends that parents remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to the family member as a threatening gesture.
“If there’s a loose dog on your property, the carrier is not allowed to exit the vehicle to attempt delivery of any packages,” Eli said.
City carriers have reported seeing packs of dogs in Russellville recently.
Russellville Police chief Chris Hargett said the city does not have a leash law, but there are two ordinances that address the issues of dangerous pets.
“We have a vicious dog ordinance. There’s not a leash law, and that’s been a source of controversy because lots of people want one,” Hargett said. “If a dog is aggressive, lunges at you or actually bites someone, it can be deemed vicious. The owner still may have the opportunity to keep the dog. He can build a fence of certain dimensions and keep it locked.”
Additionally, dogs can subject their owners to violations of the city’s nuisance ordinance. Hargett said these cases most often deal with nuisance barking or dogs getting into garbage and making a mess.
“We get several calls each week about dogs, both for biting and being aggressive,” Hargett said. “We get some calls from people complaining about loose dogs in general, but there’s nothing as far as any ordinance violation there.”
Investigations involving dogs are referred to RPD’s compliance officer, Brian Shackelford, who works together with the city’s dog catcher. The two have picked up several dogs recently, Hargett said.
Should anyone be bitten or have an encounter with a vicious dog, Hargett encourages them to contact the RPD. Alabama law requires a quarantine period for any dog involved in a biting incident.
Eli said loose dogs can also cause mail not to be delivered to an address.
“We place the safety of our employees as a top priority,” Eli said. “If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose and unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at the post office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained.
“If a dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors may also be asked to pick up their mail at the post office.”
The United States Postal Service has safety measures in place to alert carriers of dogs on their delivery routes. The package pickup application on www.usps.com asks customers to indicate if there are dogs at their address when they schedule package pickups. The information is provided to carriers on their delivery scanners, which send alerts if an unleashed dog is reported in a delivery area.
“This information is particularly helpful for substitute carriers who fill in for regular carriers on their days off,” Eli said.
