The Shadow
WASHINGTON, DC. (VR) — Last year, U.S. Postal Service employees suffered more than 5,200 dog attacks. To combat this, USPS is sharing vital safety guidance to help pet owners protect mail carriers and ensure uninterrupted mail delivery.
“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments,” said Leeann Theriault, employee safety and health awareness manager. “Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance. This campaign reinforces a vital truth: Animal behaviors can change in an instant, but proactive awareness from both our carriers and the customers we serve can stop painful injuries before they ever happen.”
Keep Mail Delivery Safe: Tips for Dog Owners
Even the most predictable pets can act unpredictably when defending territory or feeling startled. Because dogs rely on protective instincts, owners must manage their dogs during delivery times to prevent accidents. Keep your dog in a separate closed room before opening the front door. If you step outside, ensure the door is firmly latched. Always use a leash if your dog is outdoors during mail delivery. Finally, never accept mail directly from a carrier in the presence of your dog, and teach children to avoid doing so, as dogs can misinterpret the interaction as a threat.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and See the Mail on Your Electronic Device Before It Arrives
By using the free Informed Delivery feature, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. Over 70 million customers have enrolled since the service was launched in 2017. Sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com. This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier might arrive.
The Financial and Emotional Damage of a Dog Attack
Protecting your carrier protects your wallet. If your dog attacks a postal worker, you could owe thousands of dollars out of pocket to cover their medical care, lost shifts, replacement clothing and emotional distress.
“I was walking my route when a dog jumped the fence and lunged at me,” said San Antonio Letter Carrier Fiona Hudson. “I used my dog repellent and mail bag to defend myself, but it was too late. I was rushed to the hospital bleeding, with a broken bone, a severe arm sprain and was barely able to move. While my physical wounds have healed, the trauma of that vicious attack stays with me. Customers must take responsibility and secure their dogs during delivery hours.”
Take Action: Unsecured Dogs Stop Mail Delivery
When a carrier feels unsafe because of a roaming dog, mail service can be temporarily suspended.
Until the carrier feels safe enough to restart delivery, the mail will have to be picked up at the dog owner’s local Post Office.
If a carrier feels a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver to and there is no way to inform residents their mail service has been suspended, the residents will have to contact the supervisor at their local Post Office for more information. The residents would also have to pick up their mail at the Post Office until it is safe to resume delivery.
If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office Box to receive mail.
Armed with Awareness: How Carriers Prevent Dog Bites
Postal carriers undergo extensive safety training to spot potential canine hazards. Carriers are instructed to remain vigilant and exercise the precautions below:
- Announce entry. Rattle a fence gate or make a non-threatening sound before walking into a yard.
- Maintain visual contact. Never startle an animal and always keep eyes locked on the dog.
- Assume dog poses risk Avoid petting or feeding any animal on the assumption that any dog has the potential to bite.
- Block exits. Secure outward-swinging doors with a foot to prevent a pet from escaping.
If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to stand their ground, use their mail satchel as a protective shield and deploy dog repellent if necessary. To stay ahead of these risks, USPS also provides carriers with awareness tools, including handheld scanners that feature built-in dog warning alerts and physical warning cards that are placed into mail sorting cases to alert a carrier of a dog at a certain address.
