Show Your Carrier Some Love

National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 18-24

Dog owners in Utah are being asked to show their letter carriers some love by making 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 as the Postal Service launches National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 18-24.

Last year, 42 Utah letter carriers were bitten by dogs while delivering the mail, one more than the previous year. Twenty-three of the dog bites resulted in medical attention beyond first-aid, and 13 cases resulted in letter carriers being unable to return to their normal duties for a period of time.

“One dog bite is one too many,” said USPS District Manager Ken McArthur. “We’re asking pet owners to please restrain their dogs and allow their carriers to deliver the mail safely.”

Nationwide more than 3,100 city and rural carriers were attacked by dogs last year, 63 fewer than the previous year thanks to aggressive community outreach efforts. On average, 10 letter carriers a day are attacked by dogs in the United States.

“Dogs are protective and they may perceive letter carriers handing mail to their owners as a threat,” said McArthur. “For the same reason, we also ask parents to make sure their children don’t collect mail from our carriers in the presence of their pets. Employee safety is always our number-one concern.”

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 dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs.
• 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. Humane Society statistics show that dogs that have not 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.

Additional information is available through the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org, and the Prevent the Bite program at www.preventthebite.org.