In Montana, a dog pepper-sprayed by a postal worker led to that worker losing their job. From KTVQ in Billings, the U.S. Postal Service fired local mail carrier Frank Hoon Park who was caught on camera allegedly pepper-spraying a dog. Strangely, the video footage suggested that Park went “out of his way” to pepper-spray the dog.
Dog pepper-sprayed on camera
After the incident, Park appeared in Billings Municipal Court, facing a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. On February 4, a neighborhood surveillance camera recorded the mail carrier crossing the street and pepper-spraying the dog, who was inside a fence.
The dog’s owner, Katie Guzman, said her pet, Sunka, is doing better, and she hopes publicity of the incident will prevent other dogs from being sprayed.
“I’m just happy that they are actually doing something about it,” said Guzman. “To a lot of people, their pets are family and that’s our little girl, you know? And my kids love her, and I am just really happy that they’re pursuing it.”
According to a Postal Service spokesperson, Park is no longer employed. However, the spokesperson did not confirm whether he was fired.
It’s more than a trope
Although the incident suggests malicious intent, the fact is postal workers regularly face overly aggressive dogs who simply lack proper training. Far from just being a stereotype, these dogs intimidate postal workers, who simply want to do their job undisturbed. In 2021, for example, there were over 5,400 documented incidents between dogs and postal workers.
In fact, the problem is so prevalent that the USPS has started promoting National Dog Bite Month to raise awareness of this particular occupational hazard.
All that being said, pepper spray is not an effective way to deal with aggressive dogs. Most of the time, these dogs suffer because of past trauma and abuse, plus a lack of training and socialization.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that there is one instance in which pepper spray and dogs go together. If you and your dog are struggling with wildlife encounters at home, such as skunks, pepper spray can be a good, natural remedy for keeping unwanted animals at bay.
