meter reader hit dog with wrench instead deploying his dog safety umbrella

[Liberal_in_LA]

On a mild morning last August, a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power meter reader walked past a pair of "No Trespassing" signs onto Steve Markoff's property in Rustic Canyon. Before walking back out, the worker used a wrench to strike Ralph in the snout. He later said he was acting in self-defense after the boxer-Labrador-Rhodesian-ridgeback mix charged at him.
Ralph cannot find or speak the words to protest his treatment. But Markoff can — and has, with gusto. Over the last year he has demanded compensation for his dog's pain and suffering, campaigned for changes to the utility's meter-reading policies and set up a provocatively named website, dwpmuggedourdog.com.

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Lipa, the utility's chief of staff, said employees are trained according to industry standards in dealing with dogs and even carry special umbrellas to shield themselves from aggressive animals. He said the meter reader who hit Ralph, Jabril Durr, reported to his supervisors that he called out at the Markoffs' front gate to announce himself and saw no dogs before entering.

Durr alleged he hit Ralph with his meter key because he didn't have time to reach for his safety umbrella, Lipa said, noting that no witnesses were present to contradict this account.

"He and the dog were the only two people there to observe," Lipa said.
http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-c1-dwp-ralph-20150803-story.html#page=1

[seveneyes]

1. Aggressive animals should be kept away from public service workers

This one is on the owner of the attack dog.

[NickB79]

2. I would have done the same, if an aggressive dog charged me

A year ago our new neighbors let their large dog roam around the neighborhood. It would bark and growl at people who it perceived were in it's territory, and it charged at me while I was in the garden one day.

If that dog hadn't pulled up a foot short, the freshly sharpened garden shovel I swung would have taken his head off. Instead, I only clipped it's nose and sent it running.

[Logical]

7. Well, ok. Nt

[MADem]

3. Who knew an umbrella could be so effective?

http://www.biteterminator.com/why-it-works.php

https://vimeo.com/105054928

[Travis_0004]

4. Im just amazed people still read meters

They drive a van down my road at 40mph and read ever meter along the way.

LA needs to catch up with the times.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. they are installing new digital ones bit by bit

[elias49]

6. "He and the dog were the only two people there to observe," Lipa said.

That made me laugh!

Those two people probably have very different recollections of the incident!

Arf! That HURT!