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Article: Meter readers hope new law takes bite out of dogs.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- February 7, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PITTSBURG, Calif. _ Sandy Hernandez is armed with a 24-inch "doggie wand," a mini-telescope and a tiny can of pepper spray clipped to her vest pocket.
With a deep breath, she heads into a crumbling neighborhood near Bay Point that sports more "beware of dog" signs than welcome mats.
The veteran meter reader, whose left arm is crisscrossed with scars from a dog attack four months ago, faces fear every day in a job that some consider perfunctory.
Hernandez is one of 127 Pacific Gas & Electric meter readers who scour East Bay communities to inspect more than 1.7 million utility units a month.
But the job is made more difficult and ...