'Mail Carrier Blamed After Dog's Tragic Death Leaves Sacramento Woman Heartbroken

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A woman from Natomas is expressing her grief after her 9-year-old Yorkie Schnauzer mixed breed passed away, and she attributes the blame to a postal worker with the United States Postal Service.

Aranza Gutierrez, the dog's owner, acknowledges that her pet escaped when they were taking out the garbage, yet she maintains that the outcome shouldn’t have been as tragic as it turned out to be.

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"He was incredibly tiny. It’s just mind-boggling to consider that such a large stone could be thrown forcefully at his head by her," Gutierrez stated.

Video footage captured by a security camera in the garage depicts the instance when the dog dashes out of the house and approaches the mail carrier, barking loudly, back in early April.

The footage depicts the postal worker placing their bag between themselves and the dog before shouting at it while inserting mail into the mailbox. Afterward, they proceed with their delivery rounds; however, the canine continues to bark and trail behind them.

Next, the postal worker is observed grabbing a stone and hurling it at the dog.

"That was my dog. My child. He was named Baby Bones," Gutierrez stated.

Gutierrez mentioned that her dog returned inside the house and began having seizures. Her family rushed him to an emergency veterinarian, who informed them that his skull was fractured.

"By then, his brain had become inflamed, so he was in a coma by the time we reached the veterinarian," she explained.

Shortly after, Gutierrez mentioned she had to make the difficult decision to have her dog euthanized.

"It’s total quiet in the house when I wake up and find my bed empty. It has been really quite depressingly," she mentioned.

Nevertheless, she clings to the small stone, about the size of a golf ball, which she claims was thrown by the postal worker.

Gutierrez mentioned that although this person could be irritating at times, they were somewhat similar to a tiny puppy with no teeth. Therefore, there would be little chance of them aggressively approaching or biting her.

KCRA 3 provided the video to a USPS representative. The representative verified that they are currently examining the recording.

Through an email communication, spokesperson Meiko S. Patton stated, “The United States Postal Service maintains stringent expectations for employee behavior, and we treat any activities that go against these principles very gravely. At present, we are examining this situation and will implement necessary measures following the completion of our probe to uphold our dedication to honesty and professional demeanor."

“I’m not seeking vengeance; I genuinely don’t require anything in return. What I desire is merely a feeling of justice,” Gutierrez stated. “Perhaps an apology, or maybe something else—I’m not sure. Since I had to cover my own expenses for urgent veterinary care, which amounted to around a few thousand dollars, having compensation for that would be appropriate.”

USPS mail carriers are instructed on managing dogs when they perceive danger on their route.

They learn to use their satchel as their primary shield, keeping it positioned between themselves and the dog. Additionally, they have dog spray at hand.

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READ THE FULL STORY: "It has been truly disheartening": A Sacramento woman holds her postal worker responsible for her dog's demise.

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