ATTENTION:

News Editor

WHAT:

Local dog trainers will be at various Madison Post Offices offering demonstrations to letter carriers about dog bite safety. The trainers are available to speak about the problem of dog bites in local communities and provide safety tips with their dogs.

Mike Wheeler of Sit Means Sit will bring Ammo, a Beligan Shepherd to the Madison Carrier annex. Deb Crawley of The Dog Den will bring Cooper (Weinmariner) and Kagney (Hound mix) to the Westside Station. Melanie Weber of Waggin Tails will bring Harry (Siberian Huskie) and Matus (Rottweiler) to the Hilldale Station. Dogs Welcome will bring a dog to Southside Station.

Postal Service Customer Relations Coordinator Bob Sheehan will also be available to provide tips on how to avoid dog bites and explain what dog owners can do to reduce aggressive pet behavior.

WHEN:

Tuesday, May 19, 2015
7 (Hilldale) or 7:30 a.m. ( Madison Carrier Annex, Westside, Southside)

WHERE:

Madison Carrier Annex, 205 Corporate Dr.,Madison, WI 53714
Westside Station, 733 Struck St, Madison, WI 53711
Hilldale Station, 601 Sawyer Terr., Madison, WI 53705
Southside Station, 820 W. Wingra Dr., Madison. WI 53715

BACKGROUND:

The 5,767 postal employees bitten by dogs in 2014 pales in comparison to the more than 2 million children who were needlessly victimized by dogs.

The owners of many of the canines claimed their pet “would never bite” or even “wouldn’t hurt a fly.” This year, the Postal Service and its letter carriers work to prevent these painful, sometimes fatal, injuries by promoting community awareness and responsible pet ownership. More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually. Children are the majority of victims and are 900 times more likely to be bitten than letter carriers.