A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee is at the centre of a major investigation after home security footage captured them pepper-spraying a defenceless dog on a private property in California.
The shocking incident, which has since gone viral, shows the postal worker approaching a home in Huntington Beach. A small dog is seen standing calmly on the porch, not displaying any overtly aggressive behaviour. Without any apparent provocation, the mail carrier suddenly deploys a stream of pepper spray directly into the animal's face from close range.
The dog, a terrier mix named Benny, immediately recoils in pain and distress, scrambling away from the door. The entire unprovoked attack was captured by the family's Ring doorbell camera, providing irrefutable evidence of the event.
The homeowners, the Banda family, expressed their horror and fury upon reviewing the footage. They stated that Benny, a rescue dog, has never bitten anyone and was simply curious about the visitor at the door. They described the act as a gross overreaction and an unacceptable use of force against a family pet on its own property.
In response to the public outcry, the USPS has issued a statement confirming they are aware of the incident and have launched a full internal investigation. The statement reiterated that the safety of employees and the public are paramount, but also emphasised that such actions are taken seriously and are not condoned if found to be in violation of protocol.
This event has sparked a wider conversation about the protocols postal workers follow regarding animal encounters and has drawn condemnation from animal rights advocates, who are calling for disciplinary action and better training for USPS employees.
