Avoiding Dog Bites

Dog bites are a real occupational hazard for letter carriers with the US Postal Service; last year, 5,669 postal employees were bitten across the country. (Houston topped the list with 62 letter carriers bitten in 2010.) Those numbers are small, though, compared to the 4.7 million Americans (the majority are children) bitten every year.

Matthew Lopez, Houston Postmaster, says, “Working with animal behavior experts, we’ve developed tips to avoid dog attacks, and for dog owners, tips for practicing responsible pet ownership.” The Postal Service has partnered with numerous organizations to help spread the word about National Dog Bite Prevention Week® (this year from May 15-21, 2011).

One of the groups the Postal Service has partnered with is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) which offers the following tips for everyone (ones that are especially important to share with children):

How to Avoid Being Bitten

• Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch you.
• 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.
• People choosing to pet dogs should obtain permission from the owner first and 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 yourself and the dog, such as 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.
• Dogs can be protective of their territory and may interpret the actions of letter carriers as a threat. Please take precautions when accepting mail in the presence of your pet.
• Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to roam and bite.
• Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters.

For More Information:

• visit the AVMA’s online brochure
• visit the AVMA Facebook page

About Paris Permenter and John Bigley

DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.

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