DETROIT, MI — As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more customers are home during delivery hours. Walk down just about any street and you’ll see someone walking their dog. Dogs are wonderful companions who bring joy and happiness to their families. Unfortunately, even the otherwise friendly family pet can bite.

Many attacks could potentially be avoided if dog owners would take a few extra moments of precaution. The Postal Service offers these tips to keep you, your carrier, and your dog safe.

• If a 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. Some dogs 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 carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person 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 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 carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If a 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.

###