Family reimbursed thanks to 5 On Your Side after Amazon delivery driver hits dog

For Valerie Chavis, the timeline is impossible to forget. At 4:56 p.m., an Amazon package was marked delivered at her rural Benson home. Three minutes later, she was on the phone with a veterinarian trying to save her dog, Sadie.

Sadie suffered a fractured neck and other injuries that a veterinarian later determined were consistent with being hit by a vehicle. Chavis told WRAL News she normally keeps Sadie inside when deliveries are expected, but this package arrived a day earlier than scheduled.

After placing the parcel in a designated spot, Chavis says the driver ignored specific delivery instructions and drove farther onto the family’s 14-acre property, triggering an alarm. When Chavis went outside to investigate, she found Sadie bleeding. While the family does not have surveillance video of the incident, they say the timing leaves little doubt about what happened.

While Amazon did not dispute the family’s account, the company would not confirm whether it would reimburse the family to cover medical bills until 5 On Your Side got involved. 

Now, after nearly a month, the family hasreceivedd confirmation that it will be reimbursed by Amazon's insurance company to the tune of over $7,000. 

Much of Sadie’s treatment has so far been covered through donations and support from the rescue organization Project Jade, but Chavis told WRAL News those funds have now run out.

In North Carolina, pets are legally considered property, meaning incidents involving injured animals are typically handled as property damage claims.

While the Chavis family says their delivery instructions were ignored,  it is still a good idea to leave detailed instructions in delivery apps, including where drivers can and cannot go on a property, which can provide an added layer of protection for pets and homeowners, and may help support claims if something goes wrong.

To add delivery instructions in the Amazon Shopping app:

1. Open the Amazon app and tap the person icon at the bottom of the screen
2. Select Your Account.
3. Scroll to Addresses and choose the delivery address you want to update.
4. Tap Edit or Add delivery instructions.
5. Under the delivery notes section, add specific directions for drivers, such as:“Do not drive past gate.”“Leave packages at barn entrance.”“Dogs on property, please stay in turnaround area only.”
   1. “Do not drive past gate.”
   2. “Leave packages at barn entrance.”
   3. “Dogs on property, please stay in turnaround area only.”

Customers can also use the “Where should we leave your packages?” feature to choose preferred drop-off locations, such as a front porch, side door or another designated area on the property.