An accidental very hard bite

[Michael Romanos]

This is really one of the most amusing threads that's been on Go Corgi. Take all ther serious bits out, and it's as funny as anything.
A Corgi excitedly grabbing mail as it comes through a door slot and he also grabs a couple of fingers that are still stuck to a person's hand. That Corgi wants the mail delivered. But then we have another Corgi who doesn't want the mail delivered to his house so he pushes it back outside and plays letter ping pong with the postie.

I think the outcome will be that you pay the medical expenses and the matter will be dropped - and it won't happen again simply because you have taken other measures.

Whether posites are trained or not re placing letters in front door mail slots, in reality they do what they are advised not to because they don't want to muck around fiddling with mail at every front door. In law, I couldn't imagine many countries, if any, making it illegal for a mail deliverer to poke a finger or two or even a whole set of fingers through a mail slot into a house for purposes of delivering the household's mail.

One of the stories in my book Amazing Dog Stories, is about a German Shepherd named Harley Jnr who could delicately open envelopes and parcels without damaging the letters or contents.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by milosmom

It just doesn't seem fair to label the dog as a bad egg because of this. I hope common sense will prevail and the authorities will realize this was an isolated incident.
If anyone knows how to train a dog to stop eating mail and/or pushing it back through the mail slot, let me know. I've tried a lot of tactics and finally gave up and use the child gate!!

I think you are doing the right thing by offering to pay for the medical expenses....that and a sincere apology is often all that is needed to prevent a lawsuit, if the other person is also reasonable and understanding. I wish you the best of luck and hope it doesn't get ugly. Bailey is just too cute...one look at that Corgi face and you just know he didn't mean it.

Thanks for the kind thoughts. Too bad cuteness does not count in court! It would be an easy win !!!
This may only apply to my state. And I could be wrong, I'm not a lawyer. Here's my opinion....

There is no difference by law where I live between an accidental bite and an intentional bite. In a court you can't prove you know what was going on in the dog's mind at the time. The intent of the law is to prevent injuries. The second bite allows procedings to start to have the dog labeled as a vicious dog. Then the rules and penalties are different and more strict, ultimatly the dog can be put down. There is a committe created to do this. To understand go to the link from corgimom and read the laws for Rhode Island. It still may not apply to you. It's too much to post here but the link explains. Thanks again for the great link corgimom.

It's pretty hard to get a lawyer to take your case when you can't collect damages unless the dog was outside and off my property. It sounds to me as if the law is designed that way because if you stick your fingers in my fence or my house and my dog bites you you're an idiot!

If your Corgi grabs the mail coming in a mail slot for any reason, you should seal your mail slot and get a mailbox. If your laws are the same as mine and your dog accidentally bites three times, your dog's life is in danger, you can go to prison, and be fined. The intent of the dog is not relevant to the law. Even though we both know it was an accident, in my state a dog will be put down for enough bites, blame is on the owner as it should be. It cost me less than $30 and a couple of hours to seal the slot and install a mailbox on the outside wall. The color of the box matches my house perfectly.

I think the law means...
If one lets the dog keep biting people somehow, you're an idiot!
After the first bite, fix the problem.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

This is really one of the most amusing threads that's been on Go Corgi. Take all ther serious bits out, and it's as funny as anything.
A Corgi excitedly grabbing mail as it comes through a door slot and he also grabs a couple of fingers that are still stuck to a person's hand. That Corgi wants the mail delivered. But then we have another Corgi who doesn't want the mail delivered to his house so he pushes it back outside and plays letter ping pong with the postie.

I think the outcome will be that you pay the medical expenses and the matter will be dropped - and it won't happen again simply because you have taken other measures.

Whether posites are trained or not re placing letters in front door mail slots, in reality they do what they are advised not to because they don't want to muck around fiddling with mail at every front door. In law, I couldn't imagine many countries, if any, making it illegal for a mail deliverer to poke a finger or two or even a whole set of fingers through a mail slot into a house for purposes of delivering the household's mail.

One of the stories in my book Amazing Dog Stories, is about a German Shepherd named Harley Jnr who could delicately open envelopes and parcels without damaging the letters or contents.

Exactly right on all points. I would love to see a video of the dog pushing the mail back out of the door. It would be hilarious. So would a video of the mail be sucked into the slot.
As usual human nature takes over. The USA post office trains workers very carefully not to stick the fingers into anything including the door!
So of course the fast efficent posties all over the world do it anyway and probably get a pat on the back for being done so quickly! It's not illegal here, but you the law does not award you damages becuse you stuck your finger in my house, or a hole in my fence.

I agree it probably is over, but it is sad that the woman was hurt no matter what, if things were different she would be greeting Bailey every day and getting a kiss. It still may happen some day, who knows.

And it is very sad that some may now consider Bailey dangerous. The reality is that if I did nothing, another carrier could get hurt, this woman was really hurt! That would make me an idiot !!!

[Artos]

So glad it is over and cute Bailey is safe!

[Bailey's driver]

Now entering phase two.
The phone calls from insurance people started. Three yesterday. Tomorrow someone from my insurance company is comimg over to take pictures of Bailey and the house. To be continued......

[Dillydoodle]

Deleted my post

[Jespah]

A friend of ours whose dog grabbed a child out of playfulness had a professional dog behaviorist go to bat for them per se in "court". They had a muzzle order put against the dog and were fighting it. While they agreed it was dangerous that their dog grabbed the child with it's mouth, it wasn't an agressive dog. The behaviorist convinced the "judge" that it wasn't agression and the dog didn't have to wear the muzzle. It just wasn't to be off leash near people - as he has a chase instinct, and is a very large breed that could accidently hurt someone else.
My long winded point is you may want to bring in a behaviorist - if this progresses.

[disraeli]

I just read this for the first time (I am at my mom's house with limited computer time). I am sorry that you and Bailey are having to go through this - and I hope it doesn't progress beyond medical bills.