Schenectady mail carrier attacked by pair of pit bulls

A mail carrier was attacked by two pit bulls Tuesday morning, the second such attack in just over a week, police said.

The carrier was chased by the two dogs in the area of 623 Bluff Ave. about 11:35 a.m., police said. The worker was bit by one of the dogs, while the other chased her, police said.

The woman, who was not identified, was treated at the scene by the Schenectady Fire Department and taken to Ellis Hospital. Police did not have the extent of her injuries, but they were not considered life threatening.

The status of the dogs was unclear, but their owner was identified as Amanda Radley, 21, of Bluff Avenue. She was issued four tickets, two accusing her of having a loose dog, the other two with having a dangerous dog.

Bluff Avenue resident Robert Peek said he helped the carrier fend off the dogs. He was making lunch for his kids when he looked out the kitchen window and saw the dogs come around a corner and go after the carrier. He said he ran up yelling, and the dogs took off.

“If I wasn’t there, it would have been worse,” Peek said later.

He described the mail carrier as “a sweet lady.” He said his kids often go out to greet her when she drops off the mail.

Peek also said the same carrier had been chased before, a couple years earlier, by a different dog. In that case, Peek said, the dog couldn’t be found and mail service to the street stopped for a time. But service, along with the carrier, eventually returned.

As for the woman’s injuries, Peek said he believed she was bitten a couple of times and that her injuries required stitches.

“She was traumatized,” Peek said, “She was shaking.”

Tuesday’s attack came eight days after city resident Shirleen Lucas was attacked by three pit bulls as she was running errands early Aug. 22 on Hulett Street. Lucas required nearly 200 stitches to close injuries that ran nearly from head to toe.

The dogs in Lucas’ attack were surrendered to authorities and destroyed. The owner was also cited.