MARINA, CA — As far as Marina Postmaster Philip R Tantillo II is concerned, it’s time to take a bite out of his dog problem. Faced with increasing dog attacks on his letter carriers, Tantillo has decided to let the dogs out with a dog bite prevention campaign at a kick off event at the Marina Post Office located at 3100 De Forest Road Marina, CA 93933 on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 8:30 am to 9:00 am.
Joining him will be animal control officers to share important dog bite prevention safety tips with postal employees. In addition, Postmaster Tantillo is inviting the City Mayor, Chief of Police, and Fire Chief. Tantillo says, “I am excited at the possibility of improving carrier safety and look forward to this event.”
Postal Service letter carriers often hear, “Don’t worry, my dog won’t bite.” However, many of the more than 3,000 postal employees attacked nationally each year were bitten by dogs that broke loose from their owner’s grip, jumped through screen or glass doors, or were running loose in the neighborhood. Dogs are protective in nature and may perceive a postal employee handing mail to its owner as a threat. For that reason, the Postal Service is asking parents to instruct their children to refrain from collecting mail from letter carriers in the presence of their pet.
Marina Post Office is asking for cooperation from all dog owners to help solve this problem. Letter carriers are on the street from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. We ask that pets be contained either in the back yard, house or garage between those hours. Safety always comes first. If a letter carrier notices a dog roaming the neighborhood, the Post Office will suspend delivery to the affected area until it is determined it is safe to deliver the mail.
Tantillos’s dog bite prevention campaign is timed as part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week — May 19–25, 2012.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Customer service interruptions will take place between the hours of 9:15 and 10:00 a.m. Customers are requested to refrain from coming to the Postal facility during the exercise period.
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