The next house on Chet's route was a home with an inside meter. The people who lived there were very good customers. They always filled out their card with the read for him to pick up every month. This month he would be entering the home to do a Field Verification Read, (FVR). Verifying the meter has been read properly by the customer. FVR cards are supposed to be left on the fence or at an easily viewed location, letting the reader know they are expecting him. It was not in it's regular location. These were good customers; they were expecting him (he thought) even though the card wasn't there. Chet went through the gate and was met by 3 Labradors and 3 little mixed dogs that had been there on every other visit he made to the home. This time there was a new dog in the pack. A skittish Australian Shepherd. As he opened the gate to the driveway. He carefully drove the 150 feet to the house with the dogs surrounding his truck. The dogs were acting like they had on other occasions, happy for company. He honked the horn several times and watched the reaction of the dogs. No response from the house. Because the new dog was acting very strange he took his time getting out of the truck. After observing the dogs he stuck his first leg out the door while still sitting in the truck letting the dogs smell and check him out. He wanted to see what reaction he would get from the pack. They were all wiggling and happy, except the new dog, but the Aussi stayed far away. There were several cars in the driveway and he could hear music coming from the home. He got out of the truck and went into the garage. With all the dogs following. He knocked on the door. No response. He went back to his truck. He sat there a minute. These were good customers, they were expecting him. He went back to the door and knocked again. Still no response.

He got back into his truck turned around and went back up the long driveway. Naturally the dogs are following him. He parked the truck outside of the gate. He then gets out to shut the gate. He observes the Aussi rolling back its gums exposing it's teeth. He then realizes that this dog is going to bite him and tries to shut the gate before this happens. He then accidentally hits one of the Labradors with the gate while trying to shut it. The Aussi immediately attacks. Going for his face, he throws up his arm and the Aussi bites his arm, instead. He jumps backwards into the back of his truck, kicking to defend himself. By the time he dives into the back of his truck, he has been badly bitten in the arm, and bitten five times in the legs. Especially around his knees. It all happened in about 30 seconds. The dogs took off for the house as if they were in big trouble. He was able to get back into his truck and drive back to the PG&E yard. On ce there he was taken to the hospital. The main damage was to his arm, he still suffers from partial numbness of his thumb, index finger and middle finger. How did this experience change the way he does his job. He will no longer get out of his vehicle with multiple large dogs. He won't go into the yard unless the FVR card is left on the fence by the customer. As you can tell from Chet's experience, the addition of the Aussi changed the demeanor of the pack quickly. If the pack had just the Labradors , when he accidentally hit one of them, the aggression would not have escalated like it did with the new aggressive addition. Dealing with packs should always be treated with extreme caution. Please be careful out there!!

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Written by, Mitzi Robinson & Chet