USPS - May 15, 2002 - National Dog Bite Prevention Week Kicks Off In The Nation's Worst Area For Dog Bite Injuries To Letter Carriers

Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2002
Release No. 02-039

National Dog Bite Prevention Week Kicks Off In The Nation's Worst Area For Dog Bite Injuries To Letter Carriers

Van Nuys, California - Letter carriers who lead the nation in dog bite related injuries, will lead a "dog-walk" and rally to kick off National Dog Bite Prevention Week on Sunday, May 19, 2002.

The number of dog bites suffered by letter carriers peaked in 1983, exceeding 7000. Through extensive training, public awareness and outreach programs, that number reached an all-time low of 2,541 in 1998. Even with all this suffering experienced by the nation's letter carriers, they are among the third most likely group of people to suffer a dog attack. Children and the elderly rank first and second. According to the Humane Society of the United States, of the 33 people who died because of a dog attack between 1999 and 2001, 24 of the victims were under 12 years old.

Good Dog!

"We have seen how effective employee and community education can be in reducing the number of these painful and costly injuries," says Pat Donahoe, Chief Operating Officer of the Postal Service. "But, unfortunately, dog bite injuries are once again on the rise. For the first time in more than a decade, dog bite injuries to letter carriers exceeded more than 3000 in one year. That's an average of 10 of the nation's letter carriers injured in an animal attack each delivery day."

"Last year, 85 of the injuries to letter carriers happened in our neighborhoods," says Van Nuys District Manager Richard Ordoñez. "That's why we are leading the nation's annual effort to bring attention to the problem of dog attacks and educate the community about the need for responsible pet ownership."

Letter carriers and their families will parade through Balboa Park near Lake Balboa in Van Nuys to deliver this important message. Several letter carriers who have survived animal attacks will lead the parade and are available to talk about their experience. The Humane Society of Southern California will join letter carriers to talk about dog bite prevention and responsible pet ownership.

Throughout the summer, other dog bite awareness events will be held around the nation. Background information, including the number of recorded dog bite injuries suffered by letter carriers in postal districts around the nation, is also attached.

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FY 2001 Total Recordable Dog Bite Accidents by Postal Service District

District name and (the first three digits of the ZIP Codes included in the District)	Number of Dog Bite Accidents
Van Nuys District (910-916, 930-931, 934-945)	85
Western NY District (140-149)	82
Colorado/Wyoming District (800-816, 820-831)	81
Northern Illinois District (600-603, 610-611)	77
San Diego District (919-925)	76
Greater Indiana District (460-469, 472-475, 478-479)	71
Arizona District (850, 852-853, 855-857, 859-860, 863-864)	70
Long Beach District (902-908)	68
Santa Ana District (917-918, 926-928)	66
South Florida District (330-333)	64
Cincinnati District (410, 450-455, 458-459, 470)	62
Houston District (770, 772-778)	62
Lakeland District (498-499, 530-532, 534-535, 537-539, 541-545, 549)	59
Akron District (434-436, 439, 442-449)	55
Dallas District (750-759)	55
Las Vegas District (889-891, 893-895, 897-898, 961)	55
Rio Grande District (733, 765-767, 779-789, 797-799, 885)	54
Triboro District (103, 110-114, 116)	53
Central Plains District (515-516, 664-666, 668-681, 683-693)	53
Mid-America District (636-641, 644-649, 654-658, 660-662, 667)	51
Fort Worth District (739, 760-764, 768-769, 790-796)	50
Northern New Jersey District (070-076)	49
Hawkeye District (500-514, 520-528)	49
Gateway District (620, 622-624, 628-631, 633-635, 650-653)	47
Connecticut District (060-069)	46
Oklahoma District (730-731, 734-738, 740-741, 743-749)	46
Central New Jersey District (077-079, 085-089)	45
Central Illinois District (604-605, 609, 613-619, 625-627)	45
Portland District (970-979, 986)	44
Los Angeles District (900-901)	42
Central Florida District (327-329, 334, 347, 349)	41
Seattle District (980-985, 988-989)	41
Northland District (540, 546-548, 550-551, 553-564, 566)	41
South East New England District (020, 023, 025-029)	39
Pittsburgh District (150-154, 156, 260)	39
Oakland District (945-948)	39
Suncoast District (335-339, 341-342, 346)	38
Harrisburg District (169-172, 177-178, 180-188)	37
Greater Michigan District (486-491, 493-497)	37
Louisiana District (700-703, 705-708, 710-714)	37
Kentuckiana District (400-409, 411-427, 471, 476-477)	36
Cleveland District (440-441)	36
Sacramento District (942, 952-953, 956-960)	36
Tennessee District (307, 370-385)	35
Middlesex-Central District (014-019, 055)	33
Philadelphia District (190-192)	32
Columbus District (430-433, 437-438, 456-457)	32
Salt Lake City District (840-847)	32
Albany District (120-123, 128-139)	31
Mid-Carolinas District (280-285, 287-289, 297)	31
Royal Oak District (480, 483-485)	31
Northern Virginia District (201, 220-223, 226-227)	31
Boston District (021-022, 024)	30
Long Island District (005, 115, 117-119)	30
Chicago District (606-608)	30
Greensboro District (270-279, 286)	30
San Francisco District (940-941, 943-944, 949, 954-955)	27
South Jersey District (080-084, 197-199)	26
San Jose District (932-933, 936-939, 950-951)	26
Westchester District (105-109, 124-127)	24
Appalachian District (240-243, 245-259, 261-268)	24
Baltimore District (210-212, 214-219)	21
Detroit District (481-482, 492)	21
Spokane District (832-838, 990-994)	21
North Florida District (320-326, 344)	21
Atlanta District (300-303, 305-306, 311, 399)	20
Springfield District (010-013, 050-054, 056-057)	19
Alabama District (350-352, 354-368)	18
Maine District (039-049)	17
Lancaster District (173-176, 179, 189, 193-196)	17
Arkansas District (716-729)	17
Mississippi District (369, 386-397)	16
Dakotas District (565, 567, 570-577, 580-588)	16
Richmond District (224-225, 228-239, 244)	15
Capital District (200, 202-209)	13
Greater South Carolina District (290-296)	13
New Hampshire District (002, 030-038)	12
Albuquerque District (865, 870-875, 877-884)	12
Erie District (155, 157-168)	11
South Georgia District (298-299, 304, 308-310, 312-319)	11
Big Sky District (590-599)	10
New York District (091, 100-102, 104)	8
Caribbean District (006-009)	7
Honolulu District (967-968)	4
Alaska District (995-999)	4
Total dog bite accidents: 3,138

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Dog Bite Prevention Background

The Victims

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reports that small children, the elderly, and letter carriers, in that order, are the most frequent victims. Dog attacks are the most commonly reported childhood public health problem in the United States.
The HSUS also reports that the number of dog attacks exceeds the reported instances of measles, whooping cough, and mumps, combined. Dog bite victims account for up to 5 percent of emergency room visits.
Many of the bites that were reported by 3,138 letter carriers last year came from dogs whose owners said would not bite.

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 discouraged from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.

How to Be a Responsible Dog Owner

Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dog in any situation.
When the letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room, or on a leash.
Don't let your child take mail from the letter 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. HSUS statistics reflect that dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to be involved in a biting incident than neutered or spayed dogs.
Dogs that haven't been properly socialized, receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.

NOTE: The Humane Society of the United States web site www.nodogbites.org provides more information on the prevention of dog bites.

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