h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My next door neighbours Jack Russel badly bit the finges of someone delivering leaflets, the woman pushed her fingers in the letter box to push leaflet through, and Jack bit them.

There was no 'Beware of the dog' sign. Jack was barking, the woman said she could hear him, but not see him.

I'm sorry that she got bit, but I delivered newspaper for 6 years, and would never have put my fingers through a letter box, particually if I could hear, but no see a dog.

Emmily

Obviously, the fault lies with the manufacturer of the letter box. They should have known better than to make the slot big enough for someone to poke fingers through. It's a breeeding ground for all *sorts* of potential disasters.

Looks like a double lawsuit to me. One from the finger-bitten lady, and one from the owners of the (obviously traumatized) dog. Could take years of Pet Psychiatry to re-stabilize the lil fella, now he's had a taste of human blood.

great answer MoG for the laugh.

I'll mention the letter box 'problem' to my neighbour.

Emmily

You may have delivered newspapers Emily, but have you ever delivered leaflets. It is almost impossible you get anything less bulky than a newspaper through a letter box without pushing you fingers through as well. Ask any postman.

I think if the woman that got bit were to sue the owner of the dog she would have a good case against the owner for not keeping a dangerous animal under control - regardless of the presence or absence of "Beware of the Dog Sign" which is meaningless in law. Even if the dog were to bite an intruder a 4:00 AM, the owner would still be liable to prosecution. Although "Beware of the Dog" signs do deter burglars so its no bad thing to have one, even if you don't have a dog.

ah, just remembered, yes delivered leaflets too. 4,000 (A5 size, rolled them up, making putting through letter box easier) over 4 weeks, would have been more, but the person paying me told his boss to f**k off, and got himself sacked, and me out of a 'little earner'.

Yes, can see the difference, between the two. And whether leaflets or newspaper for secruity reasons, they are meant to be pushed right through, not left sticking out of letter box.

Newspapers are easier to put through letter box. Did extra rounds sometimes, the info. I had about the round, included house numbers that didn't get a paper due to 'vicious dog'.(though Jack had no previous problems) So maybe it was partly due to that, that I didn't deliver leaflets to houses/flats where I felt it was not 'safe' due to dogs, if they were barking near letter box.

I was bitten by 3 dogs over the 6 years, none serious, or through putting fingers through letter box. None of the owners apologised for their dogs behaviour

Emmily

Seems as if there's a great opportunity for an enterprising inventor, then. How hard would it be to design and build a prototype for a Letter-Poker-Through-er? If you made it out of flexible yet firm material it could also double as a Dog-Whacker-Off-er.


With pitfalls like those, it's no wonder postal workers sometimes go postal.

Whack the dog and you will probably get done for cruelty to animals. You just can't win.

I once taught a dog how to fly once. There was a terrier of some kind that had the habit of chasing bicycles and motor cycles, yapping at the riders heels.

Why is it always the smaller breeds that are so aggressive - do they have a chip on their shoulder or something. The larger breed like Irish Wolfhounds, Alsatians and Labradors tend to be more docile.

This terrier decided to chase me so I though I would give him a lesson in road sense. I slowed down to he could catch up with me. Waited till he was alongside me then I hooked my boot under his belly, opened the throttle and lifted my leg all in one fluid movement. The timing was perfect and off he went flying down the road. He never chased another motor cycle again.

Donald

>> If you made it out of flexible yet firm material it could also double as a Dog-Whacker-Off-er. <<

And you really should be whacking off dogs, either. No matter how much they may enjoy it.

RF

I can't see how the homeowner can be sued!? The dog was inside a house, and I don't see how it can be classed as a dangerous dog, when there was clear warning there was a dog inside. I've delivered loads of different things to houses in my time, and you do learn pretty quick that a barking dog shouldn't just be ignored.

Well thats the law Mina. A home owner has a duty of care to anyone that comes onto their property - even to some degree to intruders. The Beware of the Dog sign has no relevance.

It's the same as if the postman trips over a lose paving stone in your driveway and breaks a leg. You are responsible. Whether it is inside the house or outside the house matters not, it is your property.

There was a case some years ago when an electricity man was bitten inside a house while he was reading the electricity meter. The householder was successfully sued.

If it ever came to court, the judge may apportion some blame to the visitor as they also have a duty to take reasonable care, but ultimately, under Civil Law, the householder is responsible for everything that happens on their property.

Donald

If I could hear a dog the other side of the door, I certainly wouldn't put my fingers through.

However, I agree that the dog owner is liable, though are dogs still entitled to a 'first bite'? Doesn't a 'beware of dog' sign mean you know the danger & should protect visitors accordingly, e.g. a box for letters behind the letter box or at the gate.

What I understood was, that there was NO 'beware of the dog' sign, but the dork barked, which should have been enough warning.I wonder why she pushed her fingers through, really, I don't think the dog owner should be liable for her mistake, she shouldn't even think of sueing him

" the dork barked"



H.

should have been dog

I think nest time they should go armed with a small water pistol to squirt through the letter box and get rid of any unfriendly canines. Plus it doesn't harm the dog and it's highly entertaining

Jack Russells are evil little gits. A friend of mine has one and it bit HIS fingers while he was lying in bed with his arm dangling over the side - keep well away from them.

I think a miniscule amount of personal responsibility comes into play on the side of the leaflet deliverer. A barking dog, a letterbox and a little bit of paper they need to push through a sprung piece of metal. Having been a newspaper delivery boy in my youth I even made sure I didn't get my fingers close pushing a bulky paper through the door let alone a piece of paper. And if I did need to do that and a dog barked the leaflet was folded up and trapped in the outside flap - no way *I* was going to get my fingers bitten.

The woman should take it as a learning experience - burn the leaflets and take the cash. NO-ONE reads leaflets...NO-ONE and if you do GET. A. LIFE!!!!

At least when you're delivering a newspaper you can occasionally get your revenge on the worst canine culprits -

step one: put paper just through letter box,
step two: dog jumps up to savage paper and/or paperboy
step three: whack paper through at speed, dog gets paper in chops, my work here is done...



sprout

Some letterboxes can cause nasty injuries in themselves. Just to get the item to stay in the slot, let alone push it right through, may require two hands, or entanglement in springs, brushes, flaps etc.
If I have to deliver anything, I often wear thick gloves.

If I know there may be a dog loose in the grounds, however friendly it's supposed to be, I don't go in.

I've been chased by a couple of dogs while on my bike. It's a difficult situation and you're not sure whether to stop and hope it loses interest, try to 'outrun' it or boot it in the face. I got bitten by one but the other lost interest. As someone said above, the owners never apologise. I was younger then and a bit naive. Now I would cycle to the local police station and report it. Funnily enough they were both little dogs.

I'd suggest to your neighbour to get one of those wire basket things that you hang on the inside of the letterbox to catch letters - if only to protect anyone else who shoves their fingers through her letterbox.
I hope the person who was bit is OK and got a tetanus jab and everything.
As to who is a 'fault' I'd classify it as an accident where measures could have been taken on both sides to prevent it happening. They weren't - that's life.

Zantic