Today’s article isn’t on a “new” topic. What I’m writing about happened over Easter weekend so chances are you may have heard about it, but I brought it up to some friends the other night who had no idea what I was talking about, so hey! Maybe I’m bringing it to you for the first time.
I'm sorry, I can't vote either way. I DO NOT AGREE with the driver but I do think you should put your dog away as I always do with our dog to protect her as much as anything else. She gets excited when people come to the door. She's friendly; not aggressive but I don't want her hurt. What the driver did was inexcusable but could have been avoided by bringing the dog in.
The driver that shot the dog is obviously deranged and should have mandatory psychological evaluation but and this is a big but…delivery people should have an expectation of safety delivering to your front porch. The dog should be in the house or a fenced backyard if a delivery is expected. I love my animals to the moon and back as well but if someone is terrified of dogs then they should not have to confront a dog to drop off on someone’s porch.
Totally wrong…there are others ways a driver can protect himself. (Mace or stun gun) I’m lucky I live in the country and our UPS man brings biscuits and makes our dog sit before he gets the treat.
i’m a driver on 10 different platforms, including AmazonFlex where I do 3 to 5 hour blocks of deliveries of Amazon items (even same-day deliveries) which i know ERRYONE loves. I’m a dog lover from day one and I’ve owned a dog my whole life. However, none of us knows how ANOTHER dog is going to react to someone coming up to their porch. So I would suggest erring on the side of caution and put your dog up if you are expecting a delivery. Sometimes deliveries won’t be made at all if there is a dog present, and the platforms allow that because safety is their number one concern. I think it’s absolutely horrible what that Driver did. but carrying mace or a dog whistle might be a better option for someone who is in this line of work.
I was just talking about this with my oldest son (24). A neighbor had a delivery from FedEx placed on top of her trash can. What a terrible placement for a delivery and of course, the trash company took it as trash. In the proof of delivery picture she posted in the neighborhood group, you can see two dogs in the background. They are probably very friendly dogs. But the delivery driver may have had a previous bad experience making them fearful, or it might even be company policy not to approach a house with dogs out for insurance reasons. And while our dogs (I have two mini poodles) may be sweet and lovely and very friendly, they also bark A LOT and jump on people. When I have someone coming into my home that we don't know, my dogs get leashed and they are only ever outside on leash with one of us (we do not have a physical fence and I don't trust electric fences - my dog's drive to run and chase is just too strong). The only thing you can trust about a dog is that it will be a dog. Sometimes something sets a dog off and they break through an electric fence and maybe they bite, and we may never know what set them off and it may happen once when it has never happened before. As others have said, I do not agree with the driver - their action was extreme (and is the fact that they were carrying a loaded gun being addressed?). I can only imagine how traumatic this has been for the Harmon family. However, as a pet owner, it is our responsibility to keep our pets and the public safe. My dog was attacked twice by a dog that broke away from their owner. The dog that broke away was a sweet, old gal - a black lab. Gray face, slow walker, not a nasty bone in her body. But something about my dog set her off. The first time, she was on a leash being walked and we passed each other on opposite sides of the street. Her owner was also pushing a stroller. Her dog pulled to get to my dog, the stroller fell over on its side with baby hitting his head on the street and the owner let go of the leash to tend to her baby (as would I). The dog came right at me and my dog. The only thing that saved my dog from being injured was the fact that I grabbed the attacking dog's leash and kept it very short so she was right next to me, and I let my dog's leash out to it's six foot length and just spun in circles in the middle of the street, the attacking dog not being able to reach my dog, until someone else could come get one of the dogs once they made sure the baby was okay (he was unscathed). I didn't get upset with the owner or the dog - she was just being a dog and I was more worried about my neighbor and her son. The second time, she charged across the street to get to my dog while we were in a neighbor's yard, my dog playing with that neighbor's dog. My dog was leashed and the old black lab was not (they were just bringing her out of the garage and hadn't leashed her yet). I picked my dog up so she couldn't get him and her owner came running right away and secured her. I never blamed the owner or the dog. She was just being a dog (and admittedly, my dog's bark is really annoying!). My point being - we can't ever know what might set a dog off and even the most gentle of dogs can become aggressive. If you are expecting a delivery, bring the dog inside or secure it in another area. A really simple step that could have prevented this tragedy. I am very sorry for their loss though. It is sad all around.
I voted on the side of the driver... but NOT that particular instacart driver... just in general. I think we have to be sensitive and compassionate towards those whom we've requested to come to our home/door, for OUR convenience. Delivery drivers... let's face it... do not have the best of working conditions, and we do not (at least, I can only imagine) know what they've experienced in their lives on any given day, as it relates to rude/abusive customers AND pets that may actually terrify them. You/we never know if a dog is going to bite until they bite. And let's be real... little dogs can be vicious and terrifying on a whole other level. (think needle-sharp teeth and ninja speed!) Once you've been attacked by a dog (chased and knocked down and bitten, in my case... by my own FRIEND's dog, that I knew very well, since he was a puppy!) there is a seed of fear in you that never ever goes away, even if you are a dog-lover! Let's just err on the side of compassion here. Put the pets away ... anyhow ... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
I had to learn this lesson the hard way myself. I too had a dog killed by a delivery driver (UPS). My dog was friendly and loving and not threatening at all. Witnesses said the driver simply bashed in my dog's brains when the dog approached the truck as the driver got off the truck to deliver. There was no growling or barking or concerning indicators from my dog. Although I think killing a dog by any driver is rarely if ever called for, I have learned to NEVER trust ANY delivery person near my dog. If I want my dog safe I MUST take responsibility to protect my dog fromt his stranger. I would NEVER let my little child near a delivery stranger so why would I trust that stranger near my dog?
We just had an Amazon driver not deliver a package to our porch because our door was open and they saw our 7lb doxie through our closed glass storm door. Personally I think it was just an excuse to not get out of the delivery van.
I’m torn. I have never lived in a property where my dog could roam, we’ve always had a backyard. Hearing this story, if I did have a property where delivery drivers could be met by the family animal, I believe the animal should be brought inside until after the driver has gotten there and then left, for everyone’s safety. Animals are unpredictable, many could sense a stranger as a danger, not every time but it only takes one time where that switch has flipped and you’re being sued. It’s just safe to keep the animals inside until the delivery has been completed. Lesson learned, sadly. I do agree with you, I think that driver overreacted and did he have a CCW permit? The fact that he got off without further investigation is puzzling though.
First: There’s a special he*l for animal abusers. Second: The delivery person from Walmart needs to find another job. If she has a fear of dogs, this isn’t her line of work. I voted that you are in the right but on the other hand, what can you do? If you insist that she come to the door with your dog outside or even complain about her, she’s liable to retaliate even in a small way. Just bring your sweet baby inside when you know she’s on the way. Then she has to complete the delivery.
I voted put the dog away-which really addresses what should be done when you’re getting a delivery for your safety & for the driver’s. Neither selection addresses the shooting of a dog. This does not mean I think a dog should be shot-the person had her number, call before getting out of your car!!! This person should be charged-cruelty to animals. There is no proof the dog hurt the driver but there is proof he shot the dog.
I'm sorry, I can't vote either way. I DO NOT AGREE with the driver but I do think you should put your dog away as I always do with our dog to protect her as much as anything else. She gets excited when people come to the door. She's friendly; not aggressive but I don't want her hurt. What the driver did was inexcusable but could have been avoided by bringing the dog in.
The driver that shot the dog is obviously deranged and should have mandatory psychological evaluation but and this is a big but…delivery people should have an expectation of safety delivering to your front porch. The dog should be in the house or a fenced backyard if a delivery is expected. I love my animals to the moon and back as well but if someone is terrified of dogs then they should not have to confront a dog to drop off on someone’s porch.
Totally wrong…there are others ways a driver can protect himself. (Mace or stun gun) I’m lucky I live in the country and our UPS man brings biscuits and makes our dog sit before he gets the treat.
If someone’s dog bit me. I still don’t think I would do anything I’d probably tell them it’s okay and go to my car and cry 😆
i’m a driver on 10 different platforms, including AmazonFlex where I do 3 to 5 hour blocks of deliveries of Amazon items (even same-day deliveries) which i know ERRYONE loves. I’m a dog lover from day one and I’ve owned a dog my whole life. However, none of us knows how ANOTHER dog is going to react to someone coming up to their porch. So I would suggest erring on the side of caution and put your dog up if you are expecting a delivery. Sometimes deliveries won’t be made at all if there is a dog present, and the platforms allow that because safety is their number one concern. I think it’s absolutely horrible what that Driver did. but carrying mace or a dog whistle might be a better option for someone who is in this line of work.
I was just talking about this with my oldest son (24). A neighbor had a delivery from FedEx placed on top of her trash can. What a terrible placement for a delivery and of course, the trash company took it as trash. In the proof of delivery picture she posted in the neighborhood group, you can see two dogs in the background. They are probably very friendly dogs. But the delivery driver may have had a previous bad experience making them fearful, or it might even be company policy not to approach a house with dogs out for insurance reasons. And while our dogs (I have two mini poodles) may be sweet and lovely and very friendly, they also bark A LOT and jump on people. When I have someone coming into my home that we don't know, my dogs get leashed and they are only ever outside on leash with one of us (we do not have a physical fence and I don't trust electric fences - my dog's drive to run and chase is just too strong). The only thing you can trust about a dog is that it will be a dog. Sometimes something sets a dog off and they break through an electric fence and maybe they bite, and we may never know what set them off and it may happen once when it has never happened before. As others have said, I do not agree with the driver - their action was extreme (and is the fact that they were carrying a loaded gun being addressed?). I can only imagine how traumatic this has been for the Harmon family. However, as a pet owner, it is our responsibility to keep our pets and the public safe. My dog was attacked twice by a dog that broke away from their owner. The dog that broke away was a sweet, old gal - a black lab. Gray face, slow walker, not a nasty bone in her body. But something about my dog set her off. The first time, she was on a leash being walked and we passed each other on opposite sides of the street. Her owner was also pushing a stroller. Her dog pulled to get to my dog, the stroller fell over on its side with baby hitting his head on the street and the owner let go of the leash to tend to her baby (as would I). The dog came right at me and my dog. The only thing that saved my dog from being injured was the fact that I grabbed the attacking dog's leash and kept it very short so she was right next to me, and I let my dog's leash out to it's six foot length and just spun in circles in the middle of the street, the attacking dog not being able to reach my dog, until someone else could come get one of the dogs once they made sure the baby was okay (he was unscathed). I didn't get upset with the owner or the dog - she was just being a dog and I was more worried about my neighbor and her son. The second time, she charged across the street to get to my dog while we were in a neighbor's yard, my dog playing with that neighbor's dog. My dog was leashed and the old black lab was not (they were just bringing her out of the garage and hadn't leashed her yet). I picked my dog up so she couldn't get him and her owner came running right away and secured her. I never blamed the owner or the dog. She was just being a dog (and admittedly, my dog's bark is really annoying!). My point being - we can't ever know what might set a dog off and even the most gentle of dogs can become aggressive. If you are expecting a delivery, bring the dog inside or secure it in another area. A really simple step that could have prevented this tragedy. I am very sorry for their loss though. It is sad all around.
I voted on the side of the driver... but NOT that particular instacart driver... just in general. I think we have to be sensitive and compassionate towards those whom we've requested to come to our home/door, for OUR convenience. Delivery drivers... let's face it... do not have the best of working conditions, and we do not (at least, I can only imagine) know what they've experienced in their lives on any given day, as it relates to rude/abusive customers AND pets that may actually terrify them. You/we never know if a dog is going to bite until they bite. And let's be real... little dogs can be vicious and terrifying on a whole other level. (think needle-sharp teeth and ninja speed!) Once you've been attacked by a dog (chased and knocked down and bitten, in my case... by my own FRIEND's dog, that I knew very well, since he was a puppy!) there is a seed of fear in you that never ever goes away, even if you are a dog-lover! Let's just err on the side of compassion here. Put the pets away ... anyhow ... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
I had to learn this lesson the hard way myself. I too had a dog killed by a delivery driver (UPS). My dog was friendly and loving and not threatening at all. Witnesses said the driver simply bashed in my dog's brains when the dog approached the truck as the driver got off the truck to deliver. There was no growling or barking or concerning indicators from my dog. Although I think killing a dog by any driver is rarely if ever called for, I have learned to NEVER trust ANY delivery person near my dog. If I want my dog safe I MUST take responsibility to protect my dog fromt his stranger. I would NEVER let my little child near a delivery stranger so why would I trust that stranger near my dog?
We just had an Amazon driver not deliver a package to our porch because our door was open and they saw our 7lb doxie through our closed glass storm door. Personally I think it was just an excuse to not get out of the delivery van.
I’m torn. I have never lived in a property where my dog could roam, we’ve always had a backyard. Hearing this story, if I did have a property where delivery drivers could be met by the family animal, I believe the animal should be brought inside until after the driver has gotten there and then left, for everyone’s safety. Animals are unpredictable, many could sense a stranger as a danger, not every time but it only takes one time where that switch has flipped and you’re being sued. It’s just safe to keep the animals inside until the delivery has been completed. Lesson learned, sadly. I do agree with you, I think that driver overreacted and did he have a CCW permit? The fact that he got off without further investigation is puzzling though.
First: There’s a special he*l for animal abusers. Second: The delivery person from Walmart needs to find another job. If she has a fear of dogs, this isn’t her line of work. I voted that you are in the right but on the other hand, what can you do? If you insist that she come to the door with your dog outside or even complain about her, she’s liable to retaliate even in a small way. Just bring your sweet baby inside when you know she’s on the way. Then she has to complete the delivery.
I voted put the dog away-which really addresses what should be done when you’re getting a delivery for your safety & for the driver’s. Neither selection addresses the shooting of a dog. This does not mean I think a dog should be shot-the person had her number, call before getting out of your car!!! This person should be charged-cruelty to animals. There is no proof the dog hurt the driver but there is proof he shot the dog.