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reduce the number of people bitten by dogs – more than 4.5 million Americans annually – the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) join forces the third week of May every year to promote National Dog Bite Prevention Week.
“Any dog can bite. Don’t be fooled,” the campaign warns.
“Many dogs are cherished members of their family and people believe their dog won’t bite, but given the right circumstances, any dog can attack,” said Ken Snavely in a statement. Snavely is the acting postmaster of Los Angeles, Calif., the U.S. city with the largest number of letter carriers bitten by dogs in 2012.
“Dogs do not reason like people do and they will react to their instinct to protect their family and territory. Working with animal behavior experts, the Postal Service has developed tips to avoid dog attacks, and for dog owners, tips for practicing responsible pet ownership.”
To avoid a dog bite, the USPS advises you to do the following:
- Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
- If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
- Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
- While letter carriers are discouraged from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.
- If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
The USPS offers these tips for being a responsible dog owner:
- Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs.
- When a carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, and away from the door in another room.
- Don’t let your child take mail from the carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog’s instinct is to protect the family.
- Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs that are fixed are less likely to bite.
- Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters.
PHOTO: United States Postal Service
