USPS worker’s sneaky pepper spray revenge against dog caught on camera

A U.S. Postal Service worker is under investigation after allegedly spraying mail with pepper spray before delivering it to a California home—where the mail was picked up by the family’s dog.

The incident occurred in Torrance and was caught on a home security camera. In the footage, the mail carrier appears to check his surroundings before pulling out a spray canister and applying it to the mail multiple times. He then walks up to the home and slides the sprayed mail through the door, prompting the family’s French Bulldog, Jax, to bark.

“He says, ‘Okay, enjoy,’ [to the dog],” said homeowner Danna Guszak in an interview with Fox 11. “I don’t even understand that. He clearly knows the dog is going to get that mail.”

At the time, Danna’s husband Raymond was home and noticed that Jax began drooling unusually. When Raymond picked up the mail, he found it covered in a slimy orange substance with a strong chemical odor—believed to be pepper spray. The substance irritated his eyes almost immediately.

The couple said they’ve never had issues with previous mail carriers and expressed concern not just for their own dog, but for others in the community.

“What if a child picked up that mail and ingested it? Or was he trying to harm the people inside the home? I’m not sure what the intent was,” Raymond said.

The Guszaks reported the incident to both the USPS and the local police, providing the tainted mail as evidence.

In a statement to Fox 11, a USPS spokesperson said, “The United States Postal Service holds its employees to high standards of conduct, and any actions which conflict with these values are taken seriously. We are currently reviewing this incident and will take appropriate action based on the results to ensure alignment with our commitment to integrity and professionalism.”

Although a different mail carrier has since taken over the route, Danna said she no longer feels safe in her own home. “In my eyes, they’re not taking into account that I now have to live with the fact that I’m scared,” she said.

Raymond added that tampering with mail—especially with a chemical substance—could constitute a federal offense. “If you have some liquid or poison on the mail, that’s a federal crime,” he said.

According to USPS policy, employees are permitted to use pepper spray, or “dog repellent,” only if a dog actively attacks. If a dog is deemed a persistent threat, the postal worker is instructed to report it to a supervisor, who would notify the customer and suspend delivery until the dog is secured.

The policy also clearly warns against indiscriminate use: “Do not use the repellent indiscriminately, especially when there is a danger of spraying children or adults. Indiscriminate use of the repellent will not be tolerated and could result in corrective action, up to and including removal.”

As of now, it remains unclear what actions—if any—USPS has taken in response. The Guszaks say their trust in the postal service has been shaken.

“We’re not comfortable anymore,” Raymond said. “I want to be able to trust the postal carriers.”