Ironwood dog, mailman form special relationship

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood - Shaun Munn and Ted are best friends.

Four years ago, Michelle Kennedy, of Ironwood, got a golden labrador named Ted to help her son, Josh, after he had a stroke when he was 15 years old.

To assist Josh, Kennedy said she trained Ted to get the mail.

Around 2 p.m. every day, Ted paces next to the front door, waiting to get the mail from Shaun Munn, the mailman.

As Munn pulls up to Kennedy's house in his postal truck, Ted runs to him. Munn puts the mail in Ted's mouth and pets him. Ted then runs to Kennedy and she takes the mail and says "good boy."

Ted has retrieved the mail every day for three years. Over time, Kennedy said Ted and Munn have formed a relationship.

While training Ted, Kennedy said he wouldn't come back and give her the mail. Before long, Kennedy said Ted got the hang of it.

"It took him a good year to work on it to where he could come back and do what he's supposed to do and to do what's expected of him," she said.

Kennedy said Ted isn't happy unless Munn gives him the mail.

At the post office, word spread about the special relationship. Kennedy said other mail delivery employees "get excited" to see Ted.

On days when Munn isn't the mailman, Kennedy said Ted is "stand-offish."

"He doesn't visit with just any mailman," she said. "He'll notice it's not Shaun, but they still give Ted the mail."

Even though her son is fine now, Kennedy said Ted hasn't stopped getting the mail. Kennedy said Josh is going to Gogebic Community College, studying ski area management. With a bright future ahead of him, Kennedy said Josh will move one day and possibly take Ted with him.

"They definitely belong together," she said.