Dog Bites Man: Pooches’ Attacks On Mailmen Go Up In 2016 In Michigan

METRO DETROIT, MI — Ahead of National Dog Bite Prevention week, the USPS released annual statistics on the number of dog attacks on postal workers in 2016. The idea of a dog attacking a mailman might seem like a stereotype but the problem exists and according to new data released by the United States Postal Service, dog attacks on mailmen in 2016 are up when compared to the previous year.

According to the USPS, the number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide reached 6,755 in 2016, an increase of more than 200 attacks when compared to 2015.

In Michigan, dog attacks on postal workers increased in 2016 by 11.9 percent. A total of 225 attacks were record with the city of Detroit leading the way with 48. Flint was a distant second with eight attacks while Livonia, Roseville and Taylor each had six. Rochester, meanwhile, had just two.

“Even good dogs have bad days,” U.S. Postal Service Safety Director Linda DeCarlo in Los Angeles said in a press release.“Dog bite prevention training and continuing education are important to keep pet owners, pets and those who visit homes — like letter carriers — happy and healthy.”

Postal employees in Los Angeles suffered 80 dog attacks, more than any other city in 2016.

The USPS defines an “attack” as any time a mail-carrier is harmed or injured by a dog. That can be a scratch, a bite or just a fall suffered running from a charging dog.

To stay ahead of the problem, the USPS has introduced safety measures that alert letter carriers to dogs on their delivery route.

“The Package Pickup application on usps.com asks customers to indicate if there are dogs at their addresses when they schedule package pickups,” the USPS said in a press release. “This information is provided to letter carriers on their delivery scanners, which also can send real-time updates if an unleashed dog is reported in a delivery area.”

The USPS also provided some safety tips to prevent dog bites for when a mailman delivers your letters and packages:

• If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.

• Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the letter carrier handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.

• The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a letter carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office until the letter carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.

About 77.8 million dogs live in U.S. homes, and about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year -- half of them children, according to the USPS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And to prevent dog bites in general, the American Humane society provides the following tips:

For Children:

• Never approach an unknown dog or a dog that is alone without an owner, and always ask for permission before petting the dog.
• Never approach an injured animal – find an adult who can get the help s/he needs
• Never approach a dog that is eating, sleeping or nursing puppies.
• Don’t poke, hit, pull, pinch or tease a dog.

For Dog Owners:

• Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog, even if it is a family pet.
• Interactions between children and dogs should always be monitored to ensure the safety of both your child and your dog.
• Teach your children to treat the dog with respect and not to engage in rough or aggressive play.
• Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
• Never put your dog in a position where s/he feels threatened.
• Walk and exercise your dog regularly to keep him/her healthy and to provide mental stimulation.
• Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.
• Regular veterinary care is essential to maintain your dog’s health; a sick or injured dog is more likely to bite.
• Be alert, if someone approaches you and your dog - caution them to wait before petting the dog, give your pet time to be comfortable with a stranger.

Marc Torrence, Paige Austin and City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Alan Levine via Flickr Commons