Mail carrier in Gardena shares safety tips used on a dog route

What:

The United States Postal Service’s Dog Bite Awareness campaign begins Sunday, June 2, and runs through Sunday, June 9. This year’s theme is “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.” Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.

Nationwide, more than 5,800 postal employees were attacked last year.

To promote awareness and ways customers can help, the Gardena Post Office, a sub-city of Los Angeles, will be available to take the media on dog route to share steps taken to prevent dog bites, promote the safety of letter carriers, and ways the public can help to be responsible pet owners.

When:

Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 11 a.m.

Where:

Gardena Post Office
1455 W Redondo Beach Blvd
Gardena, CA 90247
(route information provided June 3 & upon rsvp)

Who:

Carlos Paragua, Gardena Letter Carrier
Luwanda Smith, Gardena Postmaster

RSVP:

Media inquiries only: RSVP with USPS Strategic Communications Specialist, Natashi Garvins at natashi.l.garvins@usps.gov.

Background:

As part of the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organization is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of our employees. Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year.

Staying Focused on Delivering

Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present and even this may not be enough. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory.

Letter carriers are trained to:

• Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard;
• Never startle a dog;
• Keep their eyes on any dog;
• Never assume a dog will not bite;
• Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and
• Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.

If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog — such as a mail satchel — and to use dog repellent, if necessary.

Letter carriers have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes. A dog alert feature on carriers’ handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards must be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to addresses where a dog may interfere with delivery.

Dog Owners Can Help With Safe Mail Delivery

Letter carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as nonaggressive. Dogs are generally protective of their turf and dog owners have an important responsibility to control them to ensure safe mail delivery.

Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.

# # #