Thursday, February 12, 2009

UPS Driver Jailed for Allegedly Hitting Guard Dog

A UPS driver and a guard dog had a rough encounter recently in Vicksburg, Miss., with the driver reportedly winning.

According to the dog's owner, the 65-pound German shepherd suffered a swollen eyelid and hazed-over right eye after a UPS driver allegedly struck the 2-year-old pooch when dropping off a package.

A home security system video apparently shows the UPS driver and a pair of dogs coming face-to-face as the driver was trying to make a delivery at a house. Shortly after the video begins rolling, the driver is seen standing ahead of the dog, reportedly at one time near the top of the head with a long, rod-like object.

According to Dan McMackin, a representative at UPS corporate headquarters in Atlanta, the incident is under investigation."It is unfortunate that the animal was injured," McMackin said in a statement. "Our drivers deliver over 15 million packages a day. Our goal is to provide service to over seven million daily customers and keep commerce in this country moving. We train our drivers on how to defend themselves in the event they encounter a vicious animal. Our driver was fearful for his safety and did what he thought he had to in order to keep from being harmed."

The local sheriff said the driver was released from custody Tuesday on a $500 bond related to an animal injury charge.

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