What:

A press event that will highlight the huge surge in dog attacks on carriers assigned to Pueblo Post Office Sunset Station.

So far this year 8 carriers have been attacked out of Pueblo Post Office Sunset Station. including one whose injuries were so severe that it required nearly a month of extensive treatment and healing. On average, one out of every nine carriers at Pueblo-Sunset has had a serious dog incident this year.

In fact, the carrier/dog incident ratio at Pueblo Sunset is twice that of any other office in the two-state District of Coloardo and Wyoming, which has a total of 114 dog attacks this year.

The event will occur in one of the city’s most notorious neighborhoods for dogs and will include carriers who can speak from first-hand experience, as well as officials from the Pueblo Police department.

To draw recognition to this, a USPS letter carrier will be made available on his route in a portion of town that has a history of dog attacks. The carrier, who has been attacked himself, will be available to talk about his experience with dogs while on their routes and give consumer information on how to keep your dog from attacking delivery drivers, paper deliveries, service personnel and children.

Who:

Pueblo Letter Carrier Donald Hemphill is a letter carrier out of Sunset Station. He has had several dog incidents and will offer great advice for preventing a dog incident in your home.

Pueblo USPS Letter carrier Safety Task force Team Members:  Minnette Williams, Donald Hemphill, Dustin Lang, Lisa Childs, Jeff Hartman and Kevin Vines

Pueblo Postmaster Minette Williams who can give a big picture of how Dog Attacks impact the U.S. Postal Service.

Lt. Lindsey Vigna from the Pueblo Animal Law Enforcement who will give a law enforcement perspective.

A representative from the Pueblo Police Department.

When:

August 31, 2017 at 10 a.m.

Where:

The vicinity of 1300 Evans St., Pueblo CO 81004.

Background:

There’s a myth we often hear at the Postal Service: Don’t worry, my dog won’t bite,” said Pueblo Postmaster Minette Williams.. “Dog attacks are a nationwide issue and not just a postal problem. Any dog can bite and all attacks are preventable through responsible pet ownership.”

This isn’t just a postal problem. It’s a community concern.

• More than 4.5 million people are bitten annually.
• Children are the majority of victims and are 900 times more likely to be bitten than letter carriers.
• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report 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 AVMA 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.
• According to the AVMA, as many as 800,000 people annually are admitted to U.S. emergency departments with dog bite–associated injuries, and countless more bites go unreported and untreated.

Please share the following tips when reporting on this critical issue:     

• If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers.
• Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. Parents should remind their children not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may view the letter carrier handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

Dog Bite Prevention Background and Tips

The Victims

• More than 4.5 million people are bitten annually.
• Children are the majority of victims and are 900 times more likely to be bitten than letter carriers.
• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report 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 AVMA 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 attacks reported by letter carriers in 2016 came from dogs whose owners used those famous last words, “my dog won’t bite.”
• According to the AVMA, as many as 800,000 people annually are admitted to U.S. emergency departments with dog bite–associated injuries, and countless more bites go unreported and untreated.

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, and 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 the letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room, or on a leash.
• 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.
• 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.