Pit bull attacks on posties suspend mail delivery to entire street

Newton resident Tony Fuller is feeling the heat from his neighbours.

His pitbull terrier got loose recently and rushed at a lettercarrier, prompting Canada Post to haltmail delivery to theentire street.

Fuller said it wasn't his fault.

"Apparently, some kid let my dog out and she barked at the mailman and the mailman yelled," he said."Ican't help it that some kid let my dog out. And the dog only barked at him."

His neighbour, Anthony Stan, is frustrated.

"He just says, 'Sorry', but I say sorry is not enough, it's not fixing the problem."

It's the second time this year unruly dogs have disrupted mail delivery onthe northeast Edmonton street.

In June, a postal carrierwas bitten by two pitbullsnot far from Fuller's home.

Glen Farmer, who lives nearby, said he was almost bittenthat day too.

"Iworry about the kids, because a kid would never have survived an attack like that," he said. "It only takes 30 seconds."

NeighbourRakesh Prasad saidpet owners on the street need to take more responsibility.

"I've been involved with the community for 14 years and we've never seen anything like this," he said.

"What's happened is unbelievable, a huge inconvenience. Because right now I don't have mail, and the mail was supposed to come and you know how things get done. But I haven't had mail for over a week."

Another neighbour, Mark Monaghan,who owns a pit bull himself,moved into a home on the street a little more thantwomonths ago. He said hecan'tbelieve service was suspendedto the entire street.

"It's kind of ridiculous," he said."A whole community hasto suffer for one person's stupidity?"

He said theownersof the dog should be fined and the mail continue.

Canada Post spokesman JohnCainessaid mail delivery on the street will not resumeuntil Fullersigns a guaranteehis dogs will be locked up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

"One incident is one too many as far as we're concerned, and this happens up to 500 times a year," he said. "And really, it boils down to responsible pet ownership."

Fuller said he has signed and mailed such a letter and was told Canada Post willsoon restore service.