Watch CBS News

Mass. Woman Gets Mail Addressed To Dog For Almost 30 Years

BOSTON (CBS) - We all know that a dog is man's best friend, but have you heard of the  mailman's best friend?

Ruth, of central Massachusetts, has been getting mail addressed to her dog for almost thirty years.

What is stranger is that her dog has been dead for twenty of those years.

Back in the early 1980's Ruth called the phone company and asked if she could change the name of her bill.

"She said as long as he's a member of the family and he lives here. She did not ask if he was human. So I had my phone listed under my dog's name."

WBZ-TV's Diana Perez reports

And since then, hundreds of companies have been hounding Jasper, her cute black mutt.

A $2,500 check from Hyundai. "A down payment for a car," says Ruth.

College applications. The latest from Curry College.

A free flight on United Airlines for his birthday, "To any major national airport anywhere in the continental USA," Ruth chuckles as she reads Jasper's grand prize aloud.

And in case he needs some extra cash, Ruth says the banks are lining up to give it to him, "The banks, the credit unions, credit cards! Without having to sign up."

The offers keep piling up but even if Ruth or Jasper want to claim his prizes, they can't because he's been dead for twenty years.

So why, after years of getting what's mostly been junk mail to a dog that no longer exists, hasn't Ruth called the companies to inform them there's no one at her home by that name?

Her reason is actually quite kind.

"We know what's happening with the post offices now and we're in danger losing some of our postal centers. So I said you know these people want to spend the money on this, let the post office gain from this, let this money go into the postal fund."

Plus she gets to giggle every time Jasper gets another check, invite or grand prize.

"He should only know where he's resting in peace somewhere that his life is still going on."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.