The attack happened July 19 in Scottsburg, Indiana off West Walnut Street. The mail carrier is Gina Branham. She wasn't ready to talk on camera.
Residents on her route said she's been delivering mail in the area for quite some time. On Thursday, her routine turned very dangerous.
 |
| Shauna Lucas |
"I heard a blood curdling scream," said resident Tracy Koestel.
Koestel runs a daycare out of her home on West Walnut Street in Scottsburg. On Thursday, she was terrified at what she saw, "My neighbors across the street were working on their front porch and I saw them take off running with shovels raised in their hand. I went out in the yard and I saw my mail carrier being attacked by one of the neighbors dogs."
Shauna Lucas, 34, owns the dog.
A beware of dog sign is on the door of her home. "A sign is not going to protect you from a dog that attacks," said Koestel.
Court documents said this was the second time that morning the dog tried to attack somebody. In the mail carriers case, it was unfortunately successful.
Lucas told authorities the dog had broken its chain earlier that day and that while it was in her home her kids left the door open.
In court documents, Branham said the dog jumped on the door, it opened and attacked her.
She was bitten on her leg on her right breast. She tried to use her bag as shield and then it bit her other leg.
Lynn Vangilder is the supervisor at the post office in Scottsburg. She said Branham did the right thing to use her bag as a shield and this situation could have ended much worse.
"We have a really severe case in Austin maybe not even a year ago where she had 9 to 12 bites, she was very severe worse than the one we just had last week and it was a pit bull," said Vangilder.
Lucas was charged with harboring a non-immunized dog, a class B misdemeanor, because the dogs rabies vaccination expired.
WAVE 3 found out she was arrested Tuesday and is behind bars for more serious charges, including possession of meth, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.
As for people in the neighborhood, they hope to see their mail carrier back soon.
They said she is a dog lover and gave out treats dogs on her route.
"I feel for our mail carriers," Kestel. "It's just a tragic accident."
That dog is under quarantine at the animal shelter.
The mail carrier is recovering from her injuries and is expected back on the job Monday.
