NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK, MAY 21-27

I know a former mailman who believed he picked up various dogs' urine while walking across lawns and this is what provokes dogs to single out mailmen. After he began walking only on sidewalks and periodically spraying his shoes with a pet deodorizer, dogs stopped bothering him.

Postal Service asking customers to close door on dog attacks

- Many letter carriers attacked by dogs last year were victimized by pets which broke loose of their owners grip to jump through screen or glass doors. As part of its messaging to kickoff National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 21-27, the Postal Service is asking customers to place their pets in a separate room and close the door before accepting mail at their front door.

"Dogs are protective in nature and may perceive a letter carrier handing mail to its owner as a threat," explained USPS Vice President and Consumer Advocate Delores Killette. "For the same reason, we also ask parents to instruct their children to refrain from collecting mail from our carriers in the presence of their pet."

"Last year, 3,249 letter carriers were bitten by dogs across the United States-including 82 letter carriers from the Cincinnati metro area. Thanks to our aggressive community outreach efforts with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and other organizations nationwide, 71 fewer letter carriers were victimized by dog attacks last year. But even one bite is one too many."

"Safety always comes first," Killette continued. "If a letter carrier perceives an unrestrained pet as a threat, we may curtail delivery and ask the customer to pick up their mail at the Post Office. If a pet roams a wide area, this may also result in the neighbors' mail being curtailed. In these cases, we won't resume delivery until the situation is safe."

Houston postal employees suffered the most dog bites last year with 108 followed by Santa Ana, CA with 94; Indianapolis metro area, 83; Bay Valley, CA and the Cincinnati metro area with 82 bites.

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 discouraged 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 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 dog in any situation.

When a letter 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 letter carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog's instinct is to protect the family.

So far, these ideas are commonsensical. But the next two seem to blame the dogs and not their idiot owners.

For instance, this is one of my pet peeves. (Ha! Get it?) A properly trained dog does not need to be fixed. (Talk about cruel and unusual punishment!) And when your dog is in heat, lock it up or find a neighbor who wants puppies.

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.

In other words, treat your dog like a pet, not a toy. And above all, don't pretend it's human.