DETROIT, MI — A different kind of chorus line will be staged in a rather unusual setting on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 8:00 A.M. at the College Park Station, 20501 Livernois Ave, Detroit MI 48221. It’s all part of the Postal Service’s annual National Dog Bite Prevention Week program. To help customers – especially the younger ones – Postal Service letter carriers are kicking up their heels and waving their arms to show the community the importance of preventing animal attacks.

Last year, 6,244 postal employees were victimized by dogs. But that number pales in comparison to the more than 2 million children who received dog bite injuries in a single year.

Half of the 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs annually are children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Of the top 30 city rankings of letter carrier attacked by dogs, the City of Detroit ranks 12th with 32 attacks in 2017 as compared to 48 in 2016.

“That’s why our letter carriers have agreed to start ‘dancing in the street’ to show the community their scars, share their stories and help their customers avoid the kind of pain they have already suffered,” says Acting Postmaster Brian Blane, Detroit MI.

The following tips will help people avoid being bitten by a dog and offer advice on how to be a responsible dog owner.

How to Avoid Being Bitten

• Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is tochase and catch you.If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact.Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, andthen 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.
• Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Humane Society of the United States (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.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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