DICKSON, TN –The Dickson, TN, Post Office will hold a Dog Bite Awareness event on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. to remind employees of the importance of dog bite prevention. Employees will be given safety tips and a special guest, Safety SAM (Safety Always Matters), will be on hand to drive home the messaging.

Dickson Rural Carrier Assistant Sara Simmons bears the scars of just how dangerous a dog attack can be. In October 2020, Simmons was attacked by a Pitbull mix while delivering packages to the dog owner’s residence. The owner opened the front door while Simmons was going back to her vehicle when several dogs ran outside. The Pitbull mix jumped on Simmons and knocked her to the ground several times. Simmons received bites on her wrist, arm, and back. When she returned to work Simmons recalls, “After the attack, I’ve been very cautious and nervous around all dogs – even if I know them.”

Letter Carrier Cindy Miller knows it isn’t always a large dog that bites. Several years ago, she received a bite on her lower leg from a small dog who was outside with the owner when Miller was delivering a large package and her view was obstructed. “I learned to always be on the lookout. Even small dogs pose a danger,” she said.

There were over 5,800 dog incidents last year across the nation. When a dog attacks a letter carrier, the dog owner could be held liable for all medical expenses, repayment of lost work hours, replacement of the uniform and other costs, which can run into thousands of dollars. The Postal Service makes the safety of its employees a top priority and dedicates a week each year to Dog Bite Awareness.

Here are four simple tips to prevent dog bite injuries:
Door Delivery: 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 push through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners must keep the family pet secured. Never take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may see this as a threatening gesture.
Electronic Fencing: Carriers may assume, if they see no physical fence around a property, that the property is animal-free. This can be a dangerous mistake. Postal Service officials request that you keep your dog restrained or inside when the mail is delivered. Although the electronic fence may keep your dog from wandering, it does not protect your carrier, who must enter your property to deliver the mail. Even homes with curbside mailboxes may have oversized packages or signature-needed items that require the carrier to approach a doorstep and cross the boundaries of the electronic fence. This poses a serious risk to carrier safety.
Dog in the Yard: Make sure your dog is properly restrained on a leash and away from where your mail carrier delivers the mail. If the carrier deems a residence unsafe because of an unrestrained dog, mail delivery service can be interrupted. When service is interrupted at an address or in a neighborhood, all parties involved will have to pick up mail at their local Post Office. Service will be restored once assurance has been given that the animal will be confined during regular delivery hours.
Tracking: Dog owners who have access to postal notification features, such as Informed Delivery (informeddelivery.usps.com) for letter mail and package tracking, are urged to use these features to determine when the carrier is on their way and to ensure their dog has been properly restrained. Expecting a postal 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.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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