Dog stops mail delivery indefinitely on Washington County street

A Washington County mail carrier said he’s had several run-ins with a pit bull, and now neighbors are paying the price.

Every mailbox on one block of Allison Avenue in Washington is empty, and will remain indefinitely, because of the dog.

The U.S. Postal Service sent a letter to residents stating that a dog has been “running loose while the mail carrier is trying to deliver mail to your neighborhood” and that the “safety of our employees is our top priority.” The letter further states that “your mail along with your neighbors’ will be held for 30 days and you can pick it up at the post office."

The dog’s owner, Renee Shelato, doesn’t deny her dog jumped on the mail carrier, but she said her dog didn’t attack him. Shelato said her dog, Tank, jumps very high but is a friendly dog.

“He ran after the mailman on the neighbor’s porch and jumped at him and all of the sudden it became this big problem,” Shelato said.

She said the mailman has no reason to be afraid of her dog, and the dog has never bit anyone or been aggressive.

Management at the Washington Post Office had a much different story.

They said Shelato’s dog has attacked the mail carrier on four separate occasions, once pinning him to the ground. They also said they gave the dog’s owner approximately five warnings before cutting off mail service.

Shelato said her dog is not out terrorizing the neighborhood.

“He probably gets out once every couple months and it’s an accident. (There’s a) little crack in the door and he runs out,” she said.

Neighbors who didn’t want to go on camera said they’re frustrated that they’re being punished for someone else’s dog issue.

"I didn't think they would be allowed to do that because of my dog,” Shelato said. “Me and my neighbors aren't getting any mail because of my dog.”

Post office officials said Shelato must put up a fence around her property or do something to restrain the dog, then they will continue mail service.

Cox Media Group