The joys of summer vacation in California have many US postal service carriers, unfortunate reality with dog bites.
June 1 marked the launch of the Post Office’s One Month National Dog Binding Awareness Campaign. As school leaves, more children stay home, dog bites increase frequency, and often spend time outside with furry friends.
Cheris Harris, a USPS Safety Engagement Leader in the Los Angeles area, encourages the community to keep their dogs inside when they see their careers.
“We know that kids love mailmen and they love getting emails, but we want them to know that they have to close the gates and close the door,” Harris said.
This year’s campaign follows a seven-year height of over 6,000 dog attacks on postal service workers in 2024. LA leads US cities with 77 attacks, according to USPS data.
Harris said LA is “notorious” for its high ranking for dog bites.
“We usually rank the top five dog bites each year, and we do everything we can to eliminate that, but we need the help of the public,” Harris said.
Dog bites not only caused confusion in mail delivery, but also cost money from the post office, according to Patricia Gilmore of the post office. When a mail employee is bitten or injured in a dog attack, the dog owner must pay thousands of dollars for medical costs, loss of wages, uniform replacement costs and the pain the employee experiences.
“I don’t care if it’s a little puppy for Rottweilers. Every dog is important,” Gilmore said. “All we want to do is do our job and go home in the safety of our families just like everyone else.”
Families are encouraged to take the time to secure their dog in a different room or on a leash before their career approaches. If your mailbox is outside, USPS recommends closing the door firmly to avoid your dog slipping unexpectedly.
Postal workers are trained to use satchels, dog sprays and dog warning cards.
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