April 10, 2003 (ASPEN, Colo.) — A Colorado mailman isn't afraid of dogs but the U.S. Postal Service still is.
For over two years, Trish's golden retriever Sydney has pulled a letter cart along his downtown delivery route. But the town's new acting postal inspector Howard Orona has forced Trish to leave his canine partner at home, saying the dog violates safety regulations.
While the resort town prides itself on its lax image, rules are rules no matter what the location, postal spokesman Al DeSarro said Tuesday.
"Terry may be the best letter carrier in the world and this dog may be the best dog in the world, but we can't take isolated cases and make exceptions," said DeSarro, who pointed out that dogs bit 3,000 postal carriers last year.
Trish, 50, initially brought his dog to work after he had hip replacement surgery and needed help pulling his cart. Sydney quickly became a local celebrity and is frequently photographed by visitors.
"Everybody else can beat our delivery standards and all I can really do is bring a lot of joy to people and that's what Sydney did. You can't put a dollar value on that," said Trish, who thinks the town's slippery sidewalks pose more of risk to mail carriers than dogs.
Some people think that the post office should be enforcing the spirit of the law, not the letter of it.
When Heather Isberian spots Sydney downtown, she gives her a treat from inside her rug shop.
"Dogs and animals are part of the way we've always lived in Aspen and I just don't understand," she said.
Tom Yoder, owner of the Kemo Sabe Western store downtown, agreed.
"Terry and Sydney are just part of the charm of this town," he said.
For over two years, Trish's golden retriever Sydney has pulled a letter cart along his downtown delivery route. But the town's new acting postal inspector Howard Orona has forced Trish to leave his canine partner at home, saying the dog violates safety regulations.
While the resort town prides itself on its lax image, rules are rules no matter what the location, postal spokesman Al DeSarro said Tuesday.
"Terry may be the best letter carrier in the world and this dog may be the best dog in the world, but we can't take isolated cases and make exceptions," said DeSarro, who pointed out that dogs bit 3,000 postal carriers last year.
Trish, 50, initially brought his dog to work after he had hip replacement surgery and needed help pulling his cart. Sydney quickly became a local celebrity and is frequently photographed by visitors.
"Everybody else can beat our delivery standards and all I can really do is bring a lot of joy to people and that's what Sydney did. You can't put a dollar value on that," said Trish, who thinks the town's slippery sidewalks pose more of risk to mail carriers than dogs.
Some people think that the post office should be enforcing the spirit of the law, not the letter of it.
When Heather Isberian spots Sydney downtown, she gives her a treat from inside her rug shop.
"Dogs and animals are part of the way we've always lived in Aspen and I just don't understand," she said.
Tom Yoder, owner of the Kemo Sabe Western store downtown, agreed.
"Terry and Sydney are just part of the charm of this town," he said.