<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1g4rOg_0lyQcbvJ00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1g4rOg_0lyQcbvJ00" width="1920" height="1080" ><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" scrolling="no" src="https://abc7ny.com/video/embed/?pid=13161232" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div> Newark dog owners are calling it a senseless act of animal cruelty: A letter carrier was caught on their surveillance camera pepper-spraying two defenseless dogs who were locked behind a seven-foot iron gate. After fronting thousands in vet bills to treat their dogs, a dog owner said she needed Nina Pineda and 7 On Your Side to help make her whole. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Michelle Correia said the incident caused her dogs, Beethoven and Gordo, to vomit. "That's 100 percent animal cruelty," Correia said. Her fiancée, Bryan Cruz, said he walked into a cloud of the fumes seconds later. "I saw something spraying down and felt something in my eyes burning," Cruz said. Cruz said when he asked him why he did it, the letter carrier said it was for his safety. Video of the incident shows the letter carrier casually holding his hand over the railing as he walked up a staircase to the mailboxes and spray the dogs, who were behind a locked gate. "I can understand if I left the gate open and they were up here and biting legs, but they were behind a closed gate, there was no threat whatsoever to him," Correia said. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> After being sprayed the couple said the Shih Tzu-Maltese mixes struggled to breathe, threw up and they rushed them to the animal hospital. Correia said one of the dog's eyes was completely swollen. Between the emergency visit, poison control call, medicine, and antibiotics, the veterinary bill ballooned to almost $1,800. It was an expense the about-to-be-married couple couldn't afford and they said their pleas to the post office for reimbursement went nowhere. "They didn't get back, didn't tell me what was going on or what was being conducted...it was nothing," Correia said. "It wasn't fair, why do I have to pay $2,000 in vet bills, not only that, but have my animals hurt?" Correia said she went to the post office to report the incident and complain about the carrier. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> She said the next day a postal inspector called her to see a copy of the video and get the vet bills, but that's the last she said she heard from anyone until 7 On Your Side got involved. The USPS couldn't tell 7 On Your Side whether he was still employed but fast-tracked Correia's claim and reimbursed her the entire vet bill. Newark police told 7 On Your Side the letter carrier had been charged with cruelty to animals. The case is scheduled for municipal court next week. ALSO READ | <a href="https://abc7ny.com/bridal-shop-maplewood-wedding-dress-arrest/12998059/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Owner of New Jersey bridal boutique arrested </a><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" scrolling="no" src="https://abc7ny.com/video/embed/?pid=12999115" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> New Jersey brides were left frustrated and fuming after Maplewood Bridal in NJ shut down, leaving them without dresses or money. Nina Pineda has the story. ---------- SHARE YOUR STORY Do you have an issue with a company that you haven't been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you! Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com . All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Their dogs were pepper sprayed - and they were ghosted when they tried to get reimbursed for the vet bills.