USPS mail carrier pepper-sprays friendly dog in Watts, Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11) - A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier is under fire after she was caught on video pepper-spraying a friendly dog behind a fence of a home in the Watts community of Los Angeles.

The incident occurred on June 3 in the 1500 block of E. 111th Street. The dog's name is Coco. Coco's owner says seeing the video surveillance angered him and wonders if the mail carrier was having a bad day and took it out on Coco. He says the dog was in a lot of pain following the incident.

The video shows the mail carrier delivering the mail when curious Coco approaches the fence, which he is behind of. The mail carrier then takes out the pepper spray, drops it, picks it up and sprays Coco who runs away immediately.

The USPS responded to the incident with the following statement:

"On behalf of the United States Postal Service, we want to apologize to our customer. We do not condone our employees behaving in a manner which is not professional and courteous. The appropriate personnel and corrective action will be taken with regard to this incident as well as training given to all local carriers on how and when to use dog repellent."

It's unclear if the USPS employee was reprimanded for her actions. Her identity has not been revealed.

Coco will be going to the veterinarian to get his eyes checked out.