AN AWARD-winning trainer has blasted USPS for its ultra-slow service which is risking the health of her beloved horses.
But the beleaguered postal utility has blamed its tardy delivery on bad weather.
Debbie Foley looks after 75 horses at Silver Brook Stables in Louisville, Kentucky.
The owner/trainer told ABC-affiliated WHAS11 that one of the horses needs his liver support medication daily.
“I receive it every month and I have yet to receive January or February’s medication for that horse,” said Foley.
Because of such poor deliveries, the animals are also not getting supplements and medication in the mail.
“We train American Saddlebred horses – we have world championship quality horses,” Foley added.
An accomplished horse trainer, she has secured numerous awards throughout her career, notably clinching three National Championships at the UPHA/American Royal in 2014 as reported by the Saddle Horse Report.
But she’s been struggling financially with the slow pace of USPS mail deliveries.
She said, “Thank goodness, at the end of January, I sold a horse and got some additional income.
“Because what income I received in two checks wouldn’t cover half of one of my weeks of payroll – these people certainly want to be paid.”
In January, the United States Postal Service said many of the delays were due to severe winter weather sweeping across the Commonwealth.
Heavy snow fell in Florida – and even covered beaches in the south.
Foley said she has not been able to either receive or send out bills on time.
And this has led to her being hit with penalty fees.
She is not the only person in Louisville to complain about the poor service.
Responding to the influx of complaints regarding persistent mail delays, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey took action by penning a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General.
McGarvey said in a statement, that issues “central to the mail delay may have predated the winter storms, in some cases by months.”
The politician initially wrote to USPS on January 24, demanding action.
Does USPS deliver in bad weather?
During inclement weather, the Postal Service only delivers where it is safe to do so.
Heavy snow, freezing rain, icy conditions, and severe weather may impact the processing, transportation, and delivery of mail and packages.
During and after a storm, Postal Service employees will make every reasonable, safe attempt to deliver mail to the addressee.
It’s important to note that carriers are not mandated to deliver mail to areas posing safety hazards, such as locations with icy steps, snow-covered paths, or slippery overhangs. Safety always remains a top priority.
USPS recommends customers keep their steps and sidewalk clear of snow and ice — as well as removing snow from around curbside mailboxes.
In situations when delivery is suspended, customers can contact local postal officials to discuss ways to eliminate such hazards.
Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of accidents among letter carriers.
U.S. Postal Service employees risk illness and injury while working in extreme hot or cold temperatures.
For example, during very hot weather, they may be at risk of heat stress.
Working in extremely cold environments can potentially lead to frostbite or hypothermia.
If in doubt about any weather-related impact on the delivery of mail, check USPS’s service alerts page.
This came after his office reported receiving more than 100 calls from constituents complaining about mail delays during January.
FOBBED OFF
A spokesperson for USPS replied at the time, “the Louisville Processing and Distribution Center is processing all mail and packages as quickly as possible.”
After effectively being fobbed off, McGarvey sent a follow-up letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“Public reports of staffing shortages, mismanagement of resources, and broken equipment indicate broader systemic issues within the facility causing the delays – not acute problems caused by winter storms,” McGarvey claimed.
STAFF SHORTAGES
He said his office learned USPS denied a request from the Gardiner Lane facility to hire seasonal employees during the busy holiday season.
McGarvey also claimed USPS had denied requests to backfill the positions of employees who have retired or left the postal service.
McGarvey said he was “concerned” about postal workers being forced to “make do without giving them the resources to succeed.”
A USPS spokesperson has apologized for the inconvenience to customers.
It has also referred complaints to usps.com – where people can lodge problems on the ‘contact us’ section.
The spokesperson sent the politician a further statement, saying, “We are aware of recent service delays in the Louisville area and want to provide an update on the situation.
“Back-to-back severe weather events have significantly impacted our operations both locally in Kentucky and across our network.
“These weather-related challenges, coupled with an increase in employee availability issues following the storms, have contributed to temporary mail and package delivery delays in the region.
“Senior leaders are actively working with local teams to address the situation and restore the level of service our customers are accustomed to.
“We are committed to resuming normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.”
Customers have also been advised to visit its online service alerts page for up-to-date information on problems related to bad weather.
The U.S. Sun has contacted USPS for further comment.
It comes as USPS branches will be silent on February 17, in line with President’s Day.
