Vicious Dogs a Threat to, Hinder Meter Readers

Vicious or aggressive dogs are a continuous problem for utility workers who read water and electric meters at Austin homes and businesses. Terasen Utilities, the contractor that reads water and electric meters for the City of Austin, has reported some 30 dog bites since 2001 when the company began reading the approximately 400,000 water and electric meters in Austin requiring manual reads. In another 2,000-3,000 instances each year meters cannot be read because aggressive dogs make it unsafe for meter readers to enter back yards where meters are located.

This is National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 15-21) and across the country, utilities are using this week to emphasize responsible pet management.

"Aggressive dogs are a serious problem that endangers contracted and City of Austin employees, makes it difficult to retain experienced meter reading personnel and prevents the efficient and reliable reading of meters for customer accounts," says Royal Johnson, Manager of Austin Energy’s unit that oversees meter reading and service requests. "Our employees are out there trying to provide a service to the public. We are asking that citizens assist us by responsibly managing pets that pose a potential threat to not only our staff but often the general public."

In April, an Austin Energy employee who was inspecting a meter was attacked by three pit bulls that broke through the privacy fence of the house next door. The dogs knocked the employee down and mauled his head and an ear requiring about 12 stitches in all. The dogs were declared "dangerous," a designation which requires dog owners to secure $100,000 in liability insurance, post a sign that indicates "dangerous dogs," secure their fence so that no one can enter their back yard and secure the dogs so that they cannot get out of the yard.

It is important to remember that meter readers and service individuals have a right of access to all meters. The meters are the property of the entities providing the service. In cases where meter readers are attacked and bitten by dogs, the owners can be held liable for all medical expenses and other costs and even prosecution in cases of serious injury.

"In the case of the three pit bulls that attacked our meter inspector, this was a 185 pound man who was knocked to the ground twice by three dogs that were trying to get to his neck," Johnson said. "If it had been a child, it could have been much more serious or even fatal."

Suggestions for responsible pet ownership:
1. The approximate date on which your electric and water meters will be read is indicated on your City of Austin utility bill. On those days, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room or on a leash.
2. If your dog must be outside during meter reading days, please make sure your dog is securely restrained and that the length of the restraint does not allow the dog to reach the path the Meter Reader must take in order to read your meter.
3. Obedience training can teach your dog proper behavior and help you control your dog in any situation.
4. Spay or neuter your dog. Unaltered dogs are more likely to bite.
5. Make sure your dog has had its shots and is licensed.

The City of Austin appreciates the assistance of citizens in managing pets that could interfere with or pose a threat to utility workers.