UTAH – Spring is here! And, as the days are warming up, family dogs are enjoying the more temperate climate outside. We all love our canine companions, and they love us. But, please keep in mind that your fur baby may not always love your friendly neighborhood letter carrier the same.

Thousands of USPS carriers deliver to homes with dogs every day. The Postal Service regularly promotes safety initiatives and shares prevention tips to protect employees and customers from dog bites. According to 2020 Postal Facts, in 2019, more than 4,900 postal employees were attacked by dogs in 2,270 cities.

Tips to help keep carriers safe

• If a postal carrier delivers a certified letter or a package to your front door, place your dog into a separate room and close the door prior to opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers.*

• Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured, and not to take mail directly from postal carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

• Most cities have leash laws that prohibit pet owners from allowing dogs to run loose.

• If your dog attacks a postal carrier, you could be held liable for all medical expenses and other costs, which can run into thousands of dollars.

• Your mail delivery, and those of your neighbors, may be interrupted or mode of delivery may be changed if your postal carrier is threatened by loose dogs in your neighborhood.

Fortunately, most dog bites can be prevented through responsible pet ownership. These simple reminders and helpful tips can reduce the hazard of dog attacks.

* USPS is temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures. While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name so that the employee can enter the information on the electronic screen or hard copy items such as return receipts, PS Forms 3811 and 3829. For increased safety, employees will politely ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.

The Postal Service 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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