SHOW YOUR LETTER CARRIER CONSIDERATION

NATIONAL DOG BITE AWARENESS WEEK, MAY 17-23

LOUISVILLE, KY — How many times have you heard a dog owner say, "My dog won't bite!" All too often we take the dog owner's word for it, and well... you get the picture.

Last year, more than 3,000 city and rural letter carriers were attacked by dogs across the United States — including 23 city and rural carriers in the Louisville Metro area alone.

"Dogs are very protective and they may perceive letter carriers handing mail to their owners as a threat," said acting Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger. "For this reason, we are asking parents to make sure their children understand not to ask their carrier to hand them the mail in the presence of their pets. Employee safety is always our No. 1 concern."

Dog owners across America are being asked to make sure their pets are in separate rooms with closed doors before accepting mail from a carrier at their front doors. That's one of the key messages from the U.S. Postal Service as it kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 17-23.

Animal Control Officer Richard Price will discuss the issues of responsible dog ownership and dog bites with letter carriers at the Martin Luther King Jr. Post Office, 2727 West Broadway, at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

"Once a carrier is bitten by an animal, they're generally extra cautious with the intent of avoiding a repeat occurrence," said Curtsinger. "The Martin Luther King Station incurred the highest number of bites out of our Louisville offices last year. Having someone from Animal Control on hand to talk about dog bite precautions will reassure our carriers whether they are acting appropriately in the presence of a dog."

The USPS is offering these tips for avoiding dog bites:

How to Avoid Being Bitten

Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
Don't approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined.
While letter carriers are prohibited from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.
If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between you and the dog, such as a purse, a backpack or a bicycle.

How to Be a Responsible Dog Owner

Obedience training can teach a dog proper behavior and help owners control their pets.
When a carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door in another room.
Don't let your child take mail from the carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog's instinct is to protect the family.
Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Statistics from the Humane Society show that dogs that have been spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to bite.
Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.

Note: Metro Council members whose district's fall within the 40211 and 40212 ZIP Codes have been invited to attend.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.