An Abbotsford letter carrier was attacked by three mastiffs on Monday morning, and taken to hospital with an arm injury.
An eyewitness said two large mastiffs and a smaller one first circled the woman, and then attacked her. She got her back against a wall, screamed for help, and kicked at the dogs.
“It was unprovoked, and it was like a pack attack,” said the witness, who wished to remain anonymous.
He said the residents of the house on Park Drive came out and controlled the animals, but berated the postal worker.
Cindy McDonnell, regional representative for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said her report is also that the dogs circled the carrier and then attacked, and that the owners of the property were “belligerent” to the victim.
She said the union will participate in a Canada Post review of this incident, and will need written assurance from the customer that the dogs will not be running loose before service resumes there.
She noted two of the dogs were just “visiting” at the address, while one lives there.
Abbotsford city hall’s animal control department was investigating the incident. While unwilling to comment specifically on Monday’s events, a spokesperson said if it is determined that a dog is dangerous, it must be kept inside a locked enclosure or in the owner’s house. When it is outside, it must be leashed and muzzled.