The U.S. Postal Service released its latest national rankings for dog bites against its workers. The City of Sacramento is high on the list, at number 16. In 2020, 22 Sacramento postal workers were attacked by a dog on the job. Nationally, more than 5,800 were attacked. USPS wants to raise awareness during National Dog Bite Awareness Week, which begins Saturday and runs through June 18.It says both the postal worker and the homeowner, are responsible to keep everyone safe. Sacramento Postmaster Doug Smith spoke to KCRA 3 on what dog owners can do to prevent attacks.”Most of it just revolves around keeping your dog behind a fence, in another room when we come to make a delivery to your home. You know, we’ve had several dog bites where a carrier will come up and knock on the door to let someone know that we have a package for them, and the owner comes to the door with a dog behind them not realizing that the dog was going to bolt out of the door and come after our carrier,” Smith said.Smith also told KCRA 3 he encouraged people to sign up for Informed Delivery, so residents get better information on when their carriers could show up.”I encourage people to sign up for Informed Delivery because that’ll give them an idea of what mail they’re getting for the day, potentially what time the carrier is going to arrive at the home to give them an opportunity to put the dog away,” Smith added.Here are some tips from USPS for letter carriers to protect themselves while out on the job:Don’t startle a dog.Keep your eyes on the dog.Never assume a dog won’t bite.If entering a yard, make some noise or rattle a fence to let a dog know you are there.Do not try to pet or feed a dog.If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to carry their mail satchel and dog repellent with them at all times. Carriers can also remind their coworkers of dangerous dogs along their route. Some tips, as well, for homeowners who are also pet owners:Keep your dog restrained indoors when you are expecting the mail.Do not restrain your dog outside with a chain or leash. Dogs have broken free from those restraints. If problems persist with your dog, you may be asked by USPS to pick up your mail at the Post Office instead of having it delivered. — KCRA 3’s Brandi Cummings contributed to this report
The U.S. Postal Service released its latest national rankings for dog bites against its workers.
The City of Sacramento is high on the list, at number 16.
In 2020, 22 Sacramento postal workers were attacked by a dog on the job. Nationally, more than 5,800 were attacked.
USPS wants to raise awareness during National Dog Bite Awareness Week, which begins Saturday and runs through June 18.
It says both the postal worker and the homeowner, are responsible to keep everyone safe.
Sacramento Postmaster Doug Smith spoke to KCRA 3 on what dog owners can do to prevent attacks.
“Most of it just revolves around keeping your dog behind a fence, in another room when we come to make a delivery to your home. You know, we’ve had several dog bites where a carrier will come up and knock on the door to let someone know that we have a package for them, and the owner comes to the door with a dog behind them not realizing that the dog was going to bolt out of the door and come after our carrier,” Smith said.
Smith also told KCRA 3 he encouraged people to sign up for Informed Delivery, so residents get better information on when their carriers could show up.
“I encourage people to sign up for Informed Delivery because that’ll give them an idea of what mail they’re getting for the day, potentially what time the carrier is going to arrive at the home to give them an opportunity to put the dog away,” Smith added.
Here are some tips from USPS for letter carriers to protect themselves while out on the job:
- Don’t startle a dog.
- Keep your eyes on the dog.
- Never assume a dog won’t bite.
- If entering a yard, make some noise or rattle a fence to let a dog know you are there.
- Do not try to pet or feed a dog.
If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to carry their mail satchel and dog repellent with them at all times.
Carriers can also remind their coworkers of dangerous dogs along their route.
Some tips, as well, for homeowners who are also pet owners:
- Keep your dog restrained indoors when you are expecting the mail.
- Do not restrain your dog outside with a chain or leash. Dogs have broken free from those restraints.
- If problems persist with your dog, you may be asked by USPS to pick up your mail at the Post Office instead of having it delivered.
— KCRA 3’s Brandi Cummings contributed to this report
