By Cindy Wolff

He never heard a sound, not a growl or a bark. The mailman just got slammed from behind like a linebacker had tackled him.

It was a pit bull, one he'd seen several times at a house on Reenie off Jackson.

The carrier who walked the route before Charles Blakely used to call her husband when she got to that house and he'd drive over with her to make sure she was safe while she delivered the mail.

"I'm ex-Army," said Blakely. "I wasn't scared of anything."

He fell to the sidewalk and the brown dog clamped onto his leg. Blakely kicked the dog several times with his other leg but the dog kept at him.

He found his cell phone and called 911. Within minutes police cars swarmed the street from both ends. The dog ran back to its house and animal control took it.

The dog's owner, Glenn McNease, was cited for the dog not having rabies tags, running at large and no rabies vaccinations. Court records show the charges were dismissed.

That was three years ago and Blakely said he's still suffering mental and physical problems from the attack. His foot goes dead and he will just fall down. He said his psychiatrists believe he's suffering from post-traumatic stress.

Blakely filed a lawsuit asking for $250,000 against McNease The case is set for trial in September.

Meanwhile, Blakely hobbles about his house with a cane. He has a motorized scooter for longer trips away from home.

He takes eight different medicines, some to help him sleep.

"I used to dream about dogs coming after me," said Blakely. "Now I seem to have nightmares about murders. I just can't get past this."

-- Cindy Wolff: 529-2378