Mailman Notices Change In Dog That Greets Him Daily, Then Catches What Owners Are Doing
By Timfly
For years, Colorado mailman Jeff Kramer has been greeted by a friendly dog name Tashi every time he dropped off mail at the canine’s house. Postal carriers aren’t always positive if a pooch will be sweet or aggressive at first, but Tashi, 14, has always been excited to see Jeff. That is, until lately.
Jeff said it’s important to let a dog check you out first when you’re a mail carrier entering a dog’s personal space. Tashi, a black lab, apparently liked Jeff from the get-go. Jeff was delivering mail along his route in Boulder when he encountered the large dog who immediately allowed Jeff to pet him.
Tashi’s owner Karen Dimetrosky told Today that Tashi “adores” Jeff. He gets very excited whenever Jeff arrives to deliver the mail. He’d bound out the door and down the steps of their Boulder home just to see his friend.
“He has always wagged his tail and pulled us over to his mail truck. He will now get off his bed and come greet Jeff at the door when he delivers a package.”
But that excitement to see Jeff has waned lately, because physically getting up and greeting this favorite postal carrier has been a bit more difficult for Tashi, who is 14 and feeling the effects of aging. A few months ago, Jeff noticed that his four-legged buddy was struggling to climb up and down the front porch steps to see him. It bothered Jeff to see Tashi experience such trouble just to wag his tail and be petted by him, so the postal carrier decided to do something about it.
Jeff’s own dog, Odie, passed away five years ago. He had constructed a ramp for Odie who also had difficulty getting up and down the stairs. He knew the same type of ramp would help Tashi get around and save his owners’ backs. Jeff told Today it was the least he could do for his canine buddy.
“I didn’t realize how much trouble (Tashi) was having until I saw them actually carry him up the stairs. I remembered my dog having the same problem, and it’s sad.”
So Jeff took the wood from Odie’s ramp and assembled one for Tashi. Karen told Today that it’s been a great tool for Tashi, assisting with his mobility and allowing him to see his human friend Jeff.
“He can walk in and out of the front door and down to the yard independently. He potentially prolonged his life because my husband and I both pulled our back out by lifting Tashi on and off the porch. It has enabled the kids to take him out front also and given Tashi a sense of independence and dignity as an older dog. Jeff is just a compassionate letter carrier who possesses a love for animals.”
It may have been a bit emotional for Jeff to take the ramp he built for his best friend Odie and reassemble it at another home, but he knew it was for a great cause. Tashi needed the help and support and, as Jeff says, that’s just what you should do. Help and support others.
“I had the pieces. They had the need. That’s just what you should do. is take care of poeple that need taken care of and dogs that need taken care of.”
Here’s Tashi’s story and how Jeff came to his rescue.
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