USPS Offers Safety Tips During National Dog Bite Awareness Week

This is US Postal Service’s Dog Bite Awareness Week designed to help both letter carriers and dog owners learn how to stay safe when mail is being delivered.

In our rural area, most people have mailboxes at the roadside where mail carriers in vehicles deliver mail, but even they can still have problems with dogs running loose or when they have to get out of the vehicle to deliver packages.

Linda DeCarlo is the Senior Director for Occupational Safety for the US Postal Service.

On the USPS Podcast “Mailin’ It” DeCarlo said more than 5,800 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year – an increase from 2022.

This year’s theme is “Don’t Bite the Hand that Serves You” to educate dog owners with tips on how to keep the mail carrier and your dogs safe when the mail comes.

First and foremost DeCarlo said when you know the mailman is coming, make sure your dog is inside or somewhere that’s not near the mailbox.

DeCarlo added that if your dog is running loose and is aggressive toward your mail carrier he or she could report it to their postmaster and you will get a warning letter from the Postal Service.

Another important step DeCarlo said is to not let your children and other family members take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to a family member, especially a child, as a threatening gesture.

And if a mail carrier is bitten or injured by your dog when they deliver the mail, you could be sent a big bill.

According to the most recent information available from the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555.

Finally, she advises using the Postal Service’s Informed Delivery service, a free service that notifies you via email what is being delivered that day.

So if you’re expecting a package you have time to make sure your dog is away from the mailbox when the mail carrier arrives.

Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory.

Letter carriers are trained 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 will not bite;
Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and
Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.