Dog bites can be a concern for many because any animal can be unpredictable. They have good and bad days just as humans do and a biting dog can also be the result of fear and anxiety. Most dog lovers defend their own furry family members from such unruly behavior but if the pet feels a need to protect those they love, they can suddenly show a more aggressive side. Feral dogs on the other hand are always on the defense mode with bite instincts as a form of protection. Recent studies reveal that the biggest issue involving dog bites includes the U.

S. Postal carriers. It is not a real myth that dogs and letter carriers are not the best of friends.

Statistics involving postal employees and dog attacks

Dog attacks on postal employees continue annually, reaching more than 6700 in 2016. That is 200 more bites than the previous years. With a rise in online shopping, postal deliveries are also on the rise. As stated by Safety Director Linda DeCarlo of the Los Angeles U. S. Postal Service, continuing education and dog-bite prevention training are imperative for pet owners that includes the pets and potential home visitors such as letter carriers to keep all healthy and happy.

Some states seem to have higher statistics with dog bites, with Cleveland, Ohio ranking as number three with 60 attacks, Cincinnati is number twenty-five with 24 attacks, Columbus is number fifteen with 39 attacks all within this past year. Akron, Ohio, Las Vegas, Nevada and San Jose all made the list with 21 attacks. Louisville is surprisingly high on the list, ranking fifth.

Other cities with high attack numbers include San Diego, Houston and Los Angeles.

Honor National Dog Bite Awareness Week through prevention

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has documented that Americans own more than 70 million dogs nationwide. At least 36 percent of U. S. households have pets including at least one dog.

These statistics were part of a research for the Dog Bite Prevention Week.

To prevent the many attacks against mail carriers, the U. S. Postal Service offered several tips for pet owners, such as:

  • Be sure to post a notice on your property that you do have a dog so a post office employee is aware of the pet’s presence
  • When expecting a delivery to the door, confine the dog to another room away from the front (or back porch) where the delivery is typically made, especially during regular time of delivery
  • Your dog may view a mail carrier as a threat so ensure you do not receive the mail in the presence of your pet
  • If your dog is extremely anxious in the presence of visitors, including postal workers and children, speak with your vet and get your dog in for training with a specialist.
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