Orange : Either Dog Goes or Mail Goes, Post Office Says

The Orange branch of the U.S. Postal Service has cut off delivery to the 100 block of South Pine Street until a resident dog is “gone,” the postmaster said.

Postal carrier Bill Troast of Sunnymead said he has been attacked three times over the last year by a dog at 176 South Pine. The dog chases and scratches him, he says.

“I’ve been lucky three times now. I’m not going to be lucky anymore. I can’t take chances like that.”

The dog in question is an 80-pound Labrador retriever mix named Grappler, for the way he likes to wrestle, says the dog’s owner, Ed Muldoon. “It’s his way of showing affection and playing,” he said.

But while the post office and Muldoon dispute the dog’s intentions, about 10 houses and a church and school have not had mail delivered since Jan. 31.

“All we want is our mail delivered, like America is supposed to be,” said Dennis Jones, a resident.

Postmaster Art Martinez met with the disgruntled residents this week and gave them the option of opening individual post office boxes, having boxes built at the end of the roadway or continuing to pick up their mail at the post office. Martinez was not satisfied by a letter from the Muldoons, stating that the dog would be confined during delivery hours.

“I don’t see how we can safely deliver in that area until the dog leaves, until it is gone,” Martinez said, noting that the dog once broke a chain to chase the carrier.