I am not sure if UPS is doing it everywhere, but I have seen them twice in the last week in our neighborhood with a "runner" running the packages up to sidewalk while the regular driver stays in the truck and gets the next address information. The runner looks like a young kid...maybe a college kid on break or a kid fresh out of high school? So it may be understandable if a temporary worker who was a kid like that didn't put two and two together with the perishable package and the dogs in the yard.

As for whether the shipping company will reimburse, unless the shipment was sent with a signature required for delivery, most shipping companies have a disclaimer stating they are not responsible for packages left unattended at the delivery location.