A San Diego letter carrier who was mauled by a pit bull two weeks ago spoke out for the first time on Thursday.
U.S. Postal Service worker Buddy Siso was on his normal route in Golden Hill on July 19 when he was bitten by a pit bull. The dog started trying to jump over the fence as Buddy started putting the mail in the mailbox, then the pit bull pushed through the gate, jumping at Siso’s throat.
Siso said a Good Samaritan and his satchel saved his life from the pit bull biting deeper into his neck.
The Postal Service gives training on dog attacks, so Siso said he knew to use his satchel as defense to push away the dog after the pit bull came at him three times. After the incident a neighbor across the street helped apply compression to his throat and put iodine on his leg.
Siso suffered eight punctures to his left knee and bites 2 inches deep in his neck and he describes the attack as one of the scariest moment of his life.
“The dog had physically pushed himself through the gate and virtually on me,” Siso said. “That was the most horrific and terrifying second of my life.”
That dog has since been euthanized and the dog owners are being sued to front Siso’s medical bills.
There have already been 31 dog attacks on mail carriers this year, according to officials. The Postal Service wants to remind residents if dogs are roaming loose they will not deliver mail to that home. Also if someone’s dog bites a letter carrier, your mail is suspended and you will need to get a P.O. Box for further delivery and you could be financially liable.
