Dog owner not charged after Mastiff seriously injures FedEx driver

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. -- A Disputana woman will not face criminal charges after her mastiff attacked a FedEx delivery driver.

Job Greene, Animal Services Supervisor with Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center, said the mastiff attacked a female FedEx delivery driver who was dropping off a package to the dog’s owner on August 6.

“When she was getting back into her truck, the dog somehow escaped from inside the house, got past the owner, ran to the back of the truck and bit the FedEx delivery woman on the back of the leg,” Greene said.

Greene said during the attack, the woman slipped from the rear of the delivery truck and injured her other leg as well.

“It has the capability of causing a severe injury when it does bite, it’s got a powerful bite,” Green said. “Animals are very territorial, it could have been something like that, but it’s speculative as to why it did this.”

Greene said the dog’s owner surrendered the dog to the county so she does not face any criminal charges.

Sammy the Mastiff

CBS 6 legal expert Todd Stone said if the dog had previously bitten someone and been labeled a dangerous dog, then the owner could be charged.

Greene said that wasn’t the case here.

“We’ve never had an issue with an aggressive dog at this address,” Greene said.

Still, Greene said he does not anticipate adopting Sammy out given that the attack was unprovoked and the woman was so severely injured.

“There are liability issues with adopting out a dog with a bite history like this,” Greene said. “If a dog is not adopted out it would be euthanized.”

Sammy the Mastiff

FedEx sent the following statement about the incident.

"Our thoughts and concerns are with the individual injured in this unfortunate incident. Safety is our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with investigating authorities."