Mail carriers in Florida among the most bitten by dogs in the U.S.
One bite is too many.
The U.S. Postal Service in Florida and around the nation is hoping to make that message loud and clear as it kicks off its 2023 National Dog Bite Awareness Week.
For Florida, there's a little more urgency for raising awareness. The Sunshine State made the USPS list for Top 10 states for dog bites in 2022.
The campaign started Sunday (June 4) and runs through June 10.
Aggressive dog behavior is a common safety concern USPS employees face. More than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering the mail last year.
“When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable and attack,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager. “Help us deliver your mail safely by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before your carrier arrives.”
According to a USPS press release, many attacks reported by letter carriers came from dogs whose owners regularly stated, “My dog won’t bite.” Dog bites are entirely preventable.
How can pet owners help support safe mail delivery?
Mail carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as nonaggressive.
Dogs are generally protective of their turf, and dog owners have an important responsibility to control them to ensure safe mail delivery.
Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.
When a letter carrier comes to your home, here are some precautions pet owners can take:
Keep dogs inside the house or behind a fence.
Move them away from the door or into another room.
Keep your dog on a leash.
Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the postal employee as a threat to the child.
What do USPS letter carriers do to help prevent dog bites?
Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory.
According to the USPS press release, letter carriers are trained to:
Not startle a dog
Keep their eyes on any dog
Never assume a dog will not bite
Make some noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard
Never attempt to pet or feed a dog
Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.
If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog, such as a mail satchel, and to use dog repellent (commonly black pepper, citrus or vinegar), if necessary.
Dog bite statistics shared by the USPS
Florida ranked No. 7 overall for postal carriers bitten by dogs in 2022 with 200. That was 19 more bites than in 2021.
California was first with 675 bite cases in 2022, down from 656 in 2021.
Two Florida cities made the Top 20 ranking for cities (out of 36 cities, since some cities reported the same number of attacks). Miami was tied with Charlotte and Indianapolis with 21 reported dog bites. Jacksonville tied for No. 20 with Long Beach, California, Stockton, California, Oklahoma City, El Paso, Texas, and Baltimore with 16 bites.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Post office mail carriers in Florida among most bitten by dogs
