DULUTH, MN — Dog owners across America are being asked to show their letter carriers some love by making sure their pets are in separate rooms with closed doors before accepting mail from a carrier at their front doors.

Last year, there were 10 postal employees attacked by dogs in Duluth — 6 more than the year before. Minnesota had a total of 108 dog attacks in 2017, with 59 occurring in rural delivery areas. Already this year, 59 postal employees in Minnesota have been victimized.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has released its annual ranking of top dog attack cities, highlighted safety initiatives to help protect its employees, and offered tips to pet owners. Nationally, USPS reported 6,244 dog incidents last year, calling for an increased need of owner responsibility in the prevention of dog bites.

“Dogs are protective and may perceive letter carriers handing mail to their owners as a threat,” said USPS Northland District Manager Anthony Williams.” For the same reason, we also ask parents to make sure their children don’t collect mail from our carriers in the presence of the family pet. Employee safety is always our number-one concern.”

While the dog problem for postal carriers is very real, it’s not just a postal problem. Over half of the 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs annually occur at home with dogs who are familiar with their victims, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Williams also shares the following dog bite prevention information:     

• Even if you believe your dog doesn’t bite, dogs are territorial and may feel the need to protect the family. When a letter carrier comes to the door to deliver a package, place your dog into a separate room and close the door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at carriers.
• Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dog in any situation.
• 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.

Additional information is available through the American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org/dogbite, the American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org, the Insurance Information Institute at www.iii.org, and State Farm Insurance at www.statefarm.com.

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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