(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois and Chicago were near the top of the list when it came to dogs biting postal workers in 2022.
A report released by the United States Postal Service in June said Illinois ranked sixth in the country for states where the most postal workers were attacked by dogs while delivering letters or packages in 2022.
Chicago also ranked sixth, among 35 other metros, for the highest amount of dog bites.
The rankings were part of USPS’ national Dog Bite Awareness Week campaign, which attempts to highlight the more than 5,300 letter carriers who were victims of dog attacks while on duty in 2022.
“When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable — and attack,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager.
USPS officials said dogs are “generally protective of their turf” and added that dog owners have a responsibility to ensure they don’t attack mail carriers. Officials recommended keeping dogs inside of the house or behind a fence, away from the door or on a leash.
Another recommendation was to not let children take mail directly from a letter carrier, as dogs might perceive the postal worker as a threat to the child.
Letter carriers are trained on how to handle dogs, but when delivery workers feel unsafe, USPS officials noted that mail service could be halted for the entire neighborhood — not just the dog owner. When that happens, folks need to pick up their mail at the local post office.
More information on Dog Bite Awareness Week can be found here.
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