A Richmond couple is appealing after being fined for an altercation between their dog and a Canada Post mail carrier.
Dominic Li and Alice Chow said they let their seven-year-old dog Craven out for a bathroom break when they heard barking.
“The mailman was about three feet away from my dog as soon as I turned my head the mailman approached my dog and started kicking aggressively,” Li told CTV News.
They said when Li questioned the mail carrier, he began to swear.
Several days after the couple called Canada Post to complain they received a letter saying the dog had attacked the postman and their mail was being temporarily suspended. They also received a $125 bylaw violation fine from the city
Anick Losier, Canada Post spokesperson, said the carrier reported the dog coming at him and barking. She said mail carriers are given training to identify aggressive dogs' behaviour and are instructed to find ways to defend themselves.
“We can’t wait until a dog has actually bitten us in order to react,” she said.
Losier said the incident was a matter of differing perceptions.
“His mail is now continuing to be delivered to his house, so the matter is resolved whether he agrees with the situation or what he has perceived of the situation,” she said.
The couple said their dog has never attacked anyone, though he barks excitedly when meeting someone new. They plan to dispute the fine and appeal to the Canada Post Ombudsman for an independent investigation even though Canada Post considers the issue resolved.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Maria Weisgarber.
