What:

On Wednesday, Dec, 11, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. at the Battle Creek Post Office, 90 McCamly St S, Battle Creek, MI 49016, mail carriers will share a message with customers, joined by renowned professional dog trainer Hector Hernandez, to demonstrate how to prevent dog bite injuries and keep holiday deliveries safe. Carriers are offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of our employees.

More than 5,800 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering the mail last year. The State of Michigan Ranked #10 in top states for Dog Bites with 183 attacks in 2023.

Aggressive dog behavior is a common safety concern USPS employees face.

Battle Creek area mail carriers want to deliver a special message to the community about working together to avoid the cost and pain of dog bites throughout the year, and especially for holiday deliveries.

Michigan 2 District Manager Don Dombrow says, “We want to ensure both our employees and customers are safe from the many dog attacks that happen year-round. A professional dog trainer will work with employees and offer our customers tips to prevent dog attacks.”

When:

Wednesday, Dec, 11, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.

Where:

Battle Creek Post Office
90 McCamley St S
Battle Creek MI 49016

Who:

Professional Dog Trainer Hector Hernandez
Postmaster Battle Creek, Benjamin Cushman
Letter Carriers to share their stories
Clayton DeGayner, NALC Vice president local branch 262

Background:

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.
When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep dogs:

• Inside the house or behind a fence;
• Away from the door or in another room; or
• On a leash.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.

Package delivery on Sunday? Postal officials urge dog owners to restrain their animals on Sundays as well, as more residences now receive deliveries throughout the weekend, especially during the holiday season.

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.

Lastly, when a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be halted — not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood. When mail service is stopped, mail must be picked up at the Post Office. Service will not be restored until the aggressive dog is properly restrained.

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