What:

National Dog Bite Awareness Week April 9-14, 2018

Who:

Randy Farmer, BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions, Houston, TX
David Camp, Houston District Manager, USPS
Stephanie Anderson, Officer In Charge, Houston Post Office, USPS

When:

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

Where:

North Shepherd Station – front parking area, meet in lobby area
7511 North Shepherd
Houston, TX  77088

Background:

To kick off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which runs Sunday, April 8, through Saturday, April 14. The Postal Service, joined by the American Humane, American Veterinary Medical Association, Insurance Information Institute and State Farm Insurance, is driving home the message that dog bites are a national issue and education can minimize the occurrences.

The number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide reached 6,244 in 2017 — more than 500 fewer than 2016. Today, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is showcasing technology that alerts mail carriers of potential attacks while releasing its annual list of cities where the most dog attacks were recorded. Houston joins that list, at number #1 with 77 dog attacks. The organization also highlights safety initiatives to help protect its employees and offers tips to pet owners.

We’ve all heard a customer say “he’s harmless”, or, “he just wants to meet you” and that’s why the Houston Post Office informs pet owners:

• 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 attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.
• Parents should remind their children and other family members 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 family member as a threatening gesture.
• The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a letter carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office until the letter carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.