Officials with the U.S. Postal Service are reminding people to secure their pets so employees don’t get bitten on the job.
June is “Dog Bite Awareness Month” for USPS, bringing awareness to the public that safety is a shared responsibility, according to the USPS.
The mail service brought the Don't Turn Your Back on Dog Bite Prevention to the Sepúlveda Basin off-leash Dog Park in Van Nuys.
USPS mail carrier Jeff Graham told KNX News’ Karen Adams that carriers love dogs, but they will protect themselves should one attack.
“We have our satchels as a line of defense,” said Graham. “We usually are trained to put them in front of us and also have dog repellent.”
Graham was bitten while delivering mail in Van Nuys, where there have been 19 attacks on mail carriers in the last five years.
“I fell backwards, and the dog bit my leg, punctured my leg,” he said. “When you might think you're safe, it's not always the case, so you always have to be vigilant.”
Pet owners are advised to secure their pets, or USPS's Dave Shapiro says your mail delivery service could be suspended.
“Service will be restored once assurance has been given that the animal will be confined during regular delivery hours,” he said.
Last year, USPS employees were involved in over 5,200 dog attacks, with Los Angeles accounting for 70 of the incidents.
USPS hopes to combat this by sharing safety guidance to help pet owners protect mail carriers and ensure uninterrupted mail delivery.
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