First off, I sympathize with you totally! An older dog needs all the help we can give it.

Couple of questions -- are you sure it's been the same carrier?? They bid on routes twice a year and you may not have the same carrier you had before.

How wide is the ramp? Could it be, say, half the width of the steps on the side away from the mailbox?

What is the possibility of moving the mailbox to the bottom of the steps? Then, the old rat wouldn't have to climb the stairs at all or worry about the ramp (by old rat I mean the letter carrier!).

I've carried the mail (almost a year -- most boring job I've ever had), and find it hard to believe that this person should have such difficulty with a dog ramp, especially when it's been there since July. That's why I asked if you're SURE it's the same carrier. Maybe you could talk to him/her???

What about putting carpet strips or lathes on the ramp, so the mail person won't slip and fall on his/her a**?

When I carried the mail, it wasn't the dogs I was concerned with, but the cats lying on the porch so innocently until you reach to pet them and then they rip your hands to shreds! Only had problems with two dogs in a year and one was trying to sneak up behind me across concrete with long nails -- didn't work! The other jumped a fence and I was fending it off with a handful of mail. Fortunately, the owner was home and called the dog in. Must have been pretty funny to see! Good luck with this. It too shall pass.