NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The United States Postal Service (USPS) is calling on customers to keep all pets under control while mail is being delivered.
USPS said with dog attacks happening more often, the agency has prioritized finding ways to stamp out dog bites.
According to USPS, over 5,800 postal workers across the country were attacked by dogs in 2023, about a 10% increase from the previous year.
The agency’s data ranked the Volunteer State 15th in the nation for the most dog attacks with 116 in 2023, six of which happened in Nashville. That number is up nearly 40% from 2022.
Because of the upward trend, the postal service is trying to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.
When a mail carrier arrives at your home, USPS recommends keeping your furry friend(s):
- Inside the house
- Behind a fence
- Away from the door
- Locked in another room
- On a leash
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555.
“When a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs and pain and suffering for the employee,” USPS stated.
Omar Coleman, USPS Tennessee regional manager, knows firsthand the dangers pets can pose to mail carriers.
“Early on in my career, I was a letter carrier and a dog came from underneath a car, and all I heard was the dog snarling,” Coleman said. “I had an opportunity to turn around and grab my dog spray, and I deployed the dog spray and it did stop the dog. It gave me enough time to back away safely, return to my vehicle, gather my senses, gather my thoughts and continue delivering mail to the customers on my route.”
As a 24-year veteran of USPS, Coleman said he’s heard his fair share of horror stories involving aggressive dogs from his coworkers.
“One of our letter carriers was making his rounds and got bit on his calf by a dog and it was a pretty vicious bite,” Coleman said. “It required several surgeries for the carrier, but luckily the carrier is recovering and they're doing fine.”
In the event a dog is violently approaching, all USPS letter carriers are taught to:
- Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard
- Never startle a dog
- Keep their eyes on any dog
- Never assume a dog won't bite
- Never attempt to pet or feed a dog
- Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping
Coleman added all mail carriers are trained to protect themselves by putting an item - such as a mail satchel - between them and the dog. He said they are also all equipped with a dog-repellent spray that they can deploy if necessary.
“The safety and welfare of our employees is paramount,” Coleman said. “We have to find a balance of making sure that we service the community while keeping our employees safe.”
For more information visit the USPS website.
from WKRN News 2 https://ift.tt/8GW5mes
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