I'm glad to hear she was cleared. This is a precedent setting case: when the day comes that I, or you, or anyone feels "threatened" by a three-pound dog and a 7 year old child, we'll be able to pepper spray them, too, with a clear expectation of no consequences. Cases like this make our country a little more free, and all of a little more safe from tiny dogs and children.

People with Dogs think they can do no wrong. Little dogs bite too. In fact the worst dog bite I ever saw was from a Jack Russel

The dog owner is to blame for not controlling the dog.

Robin I understand that think its stupid to be afraid of a small dog like that. I work for the USPS and in our industry a majority of the dog bites and attacks are not from the larger dogs, (Pit Bulls, Doberman, German Sheppards) but from the small little yipper dogs. The smaller dogs will follow a carrier nipping at their heel's and eventually attempting to hamstring them. If not that, then it's the yippers who escape the front door and latch onto the carrier between their thumb and index finger. Carriers face this on a daily basis, and i think a lot of it has to do with the fact that customers with small dogs have the mentallity of "Oh he's so little and friendly HE"D NEVER BITE ANYONE"

No matter the size, a dog bite is not trival. My letter carrier was bitten. Had a single tooth puncture. Spent a week in the hospital and almost lost his arm from the infection.

The dog owner should be put down for allowing that rat dog to run around unleashed! I would of stomped that dog to death if it attaced me!

Little dogs and little kids beware! This woman is 'threatened' by you!

Not only would I have sprayed the dog and little girl, I would have sprayed the owner as well. Im glad the carrier was cleared.

I carried mail from 84 to 96. One of the first incidences with a dog was a small terrier that burst through the screen door. It wasn't latched. The dog ws followed shortly there after by a deaf girl around 8 years old. It was quite the dance among the three of us. I did'nt use the pepper spray for fear I'd hit the child with it. She eventually got a hold of the mut and took it back inside. The next day the dog heard me coming and the race was on to see who would get to the door first. The dog beat me by just enough to get its head out the door before I attempted to close the door with my boot. The mut was trapped! It could get neither in nor out. As for pepper spray... I have seen it blow back into the carrier's face more than once. And then what do you do if the dog is a cajun hound of some sort. When a house has chimneys at each end of the house they make pretty good uprights. And the kick is good! And the final score is mailman one, mut zero!!
Besides it is much more satisfying to choke the beast unconscious as I did a chow that left me with 17 punctures to the bone when she tried to remove my right hand. Screwy people have screwy dogs!

I think a lot of you fail to realize that anything with a mouth can bite. Had it been me, I would have kicked the dog and been done with it, but then again I have the mentality that if a dog bites me I will kill the dog.

From what I gathered from the articles, the mother was not even present to witness the events. It's entirely possible that the girl was caught downwind of the spray and the carrier did not know. Or, even more likely, the little girl picked up her dog and then touched her face getting the spray in her eyes.

The real person to blame in this situation is the mother for not watching her dog and her seven year old child.

If some people don't think small dogs will attack, how about they deliver the mail for a while. We are out there on a daily basis, so we know what can happen with small dogs. This may sound corny, but each dog owner should be required to take lessons from "The Dog Whisper". Most people with dogs are not in charge, the dog is in charge. Quit treating your dog like a person, it's a dog, and needs to be treated like a dog. So, be the pack leader and establish boundries for your dog. I have one rule while I'm delivering mail, either you can control your dog, or I will.

Dog lovers don't give a poop about you! Dogs can do no wrong! Screw people, dogs should rule the world! Sarah and Robin are what's wrong with this world! CONTROL YOUR FRIGGIN' DOG! Large or small.

The only time I got git was from a Poodle when the kid came out the door with the dog.

I'm going to work for the Post Office

One day on my route, I approached a home and noticed a new family outside with their dog. I asked the owner was the dog ok and he stated yes.
After I handed the little boy the mail, the owner yelled out ATTACK! I suppose as a joke. The dog came after me of course. I was able to scare it away and avoid a bite. As I walked away with my heart outside my uniform I saw the family comforting their precious little Fido. Never received an apology. Dog owners think their dogs are human and have a sense of humor. I have even delivered credit cards addressed to dogs.