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Dog attack changes delivery of mail

After a woman refuses to get rid of her pet, Pinellas Park's postmaster puts a neighborhood on curbside delivery.

PINELLAS PARK - The postmaster last week ordered mandatory curbside delivery for a neighborhood after a woman refused to get rid of a dog that had attacked a mail carrier.

Now Pinellas Park officials are trying to force Helen Bednarski to get rid of the dog, which is named Prone. They have cited her for having an aggressive dog and plan to take her to court.

Pinellas County Animal Control returned Prone after a mediator ruled it had not severely injured the mail carrier in the Sept. 3 attack. Bednarski's two other dogs, Phoenix and Dumbo, were euthanized last week because of the attack.

Bednarski did not return a phone call Friday asking for comment.

At least one neighbor is upset at the prospect of curbside delivery. Mike Scavelli said he has little room at the front of his property so placement of a mailbox will be a problem. He also objected to the unexpected expense.

"If you have (a dog) that's disrupting the whole neighborhood, it should go," Scavelli said.

Pinellas Park postmaster Doug Burns notified residents in a two-block area around 6955 59th St. N that they would have to erect a curbside mailbox or pick up their mail at the post office.

Burns' letter reports what happened to mail carrier Rosemary Hanks when the three pit bull/chow mixes mauled her, biting her legs and scalp as she lay on the ground trying to fend them off.

"Mail delivery was not immediately suspended to the area due to the fact that Animal Control confiscated the dogs for quarantine," Burns wrote. "The intentions of Animal Control was to euthanize these dogs.

"The owner appealed this action and an independent arbitrator to return one of these animals. The city of Pinellas Park has since cited the dog owner and demanded the animal be removed from city limits within 24 hours. This action has not been complied with as well."

Burns was not available Friday for comment.

Pinellas Park City Manager Mike Gustafson said officers twice talked with Bednarski and asked her to get rid of Prone. He said officers stressed the inconvenience and expense to her neighbors.

"From the way I understand it ... she said she didn't care, she was keeping her dog," Gustafson said.

So officers cited her.

"This is the first time that we've done this that I'm aware of," Gustafson said. "We're not tolerating aggressive dogs .... I think this is a high priority."

City spokesman Tim Caddell said officials hope that the post office will resume walk-up delivery if Prone is removed. But that's not the point anymore, he said.

"The bottom line of it is keeping people safe when they're out on the streets," Caddell said. "It isn't really about mail carriers anymore."

Bednarski has until Nov. 7 to pay the citation or go to court. If she goes to court and loses, the judge can force her to get rid of Prone and fine her up to $300.