Dog Attacks Still Major Risk for Both Postal Employees and Children?

Los Angeles is the number two most dangerous city for dog attacks against letter carriers in the U.S. Dogs, over time, will view uniformed mail carriers as a threat because the mail carrier leaves six days a week, every time after the dog barks. Over time the animal feels validated the mailman or woman is a threat because the dog thinks it “protected” its home by scaring off the intruder. So over time, dogs can view the mail carriers’ uniforms as a potential threat.

So our uniformed letter carriers have good reason to be cautious when they hear or see a barking dog. And since June 14-20, 2020 is all about dog bite prevention week; I thought I would share my thoughts with you as a Los Angeles lawyer who helps postal workers attacked by domesticated animals. Man’s best friend is a crucial companion in millions of homes across the country. However, dogs also represent one of the highest injury risks for:

1. Young children. (This figure includes children living within the household itself).
2. Elderly visitors.
3. U.S. postal workers are walking on their mail routes.

Attacks against mail delivery people in Los Angeles have seen their fair share of media coverage. Most of us have seen the mostly white postal truck with its right-hand steering wheels parked along residential streets. Postal workers pull over, grab their mailbags, and start walking the shoulder of the roads and paths at a brisk pace. And this has been their job for ages since the inception of the Pony Express.

But occasionally, Rover, Fido, and a pack of dogs get loose from a neighbor’s yard. Female dogs in heat can especially make male dogs jump fences and dig holes to get a chance at mating. And when something like that happens, uniformed postal workers are rarely not perceived as a threat to dogs. After all, being the ancestors of wolves, canines are territorial by nature.

Most postal employees know if they run, they will get nipped or bitten in the buttocks or ankle, thrown to the asphalt and ripped apart, or worse. So these government employees are trained to stand their ground and defend against the attack if possible.

How U.S.P.S. Campaigns Like “Be Alert: Prevent the BITE” Can Helping Reduce Dog Attacks Against Postal Delivery People

Most mail delivery personnel will carry mace or some dog repellent. But no amount of pepper spray can stop every determined canine from attacking. Furthermore, certain breeds are far more likely to attack, leading to caution.

Such strains of dogs are much more likely to attack. And these breeds are the ones that tend to maim or, in some cases, even kill compared to other domesticated dog types. The United States Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) is ringing in National Dog Bite Awareness Week with all of this in mind.

What Do the 2020 U.S. Postal Service Dog Attack National Rankings Say?

There is good news for U.S. postal workers in 2020. According to the U.S.P.S., attacks on postal workers by dogs have dropped annually since 2017. In 2019, attacks against mail people substantially decreased by almost 200 episodes from 2018.

However, the 5,803 dog attacks in 2019 represent a whopping 400 fewer attacks since 2017. That is a significant drop contributing to the safety of postal workers and civilians. One way the U.S.P.S. is helping to avoid dog attacks is through education and public outreach programs.

Also, it has made its list of the most dangerous cities with the most reported canine assaults against letter carriers. Tips and educational neighborhood outreach like this have assisted in preventing injuries to these essential government employees who we count on to deliver our mail, rain, sleet, or snow.

“Even during these difficult times, it’s important for our customers to understand that letter carriers are still coming to homes daily and need to deliver mail safely,” said USPS Safety Awareness Program Manager Chris Johnson. “We are confident we can keep moving the trends of attacks downward, and ramping up overall awareness for everyone is the best way to do that.” (Chris Johnson USPS)

Tips and Technology for Letter Carriers to Stay Safe.

According to Johnson, technology supports carrier safety in two ways: Mobile Delivery Devices, handheld scanners used by carriers to confirm customer delivery, include a feature to indicate the presence of a dog at an individual address. And the Informed Delivery service alerts customers to mail and packages coming to their homes, allowing them to plan for the carrier’s arrival by securing their dogs safely.

Some Steps Letters Carriers Learn to Mitigate a Dog Assault

Both dog owners and workers can achieve a safer neighborhood by: 

• Crate or keep your dog apart from any rooms allowing your dog access to the front entry when receiving packages or letters while opening your door.
• For example, workers may not even drop your mail if they see a snarling dog behind a sliding glass door.
• Dogs are powerful and can leap and shatter a large windowpane in many cases. So now, rather than get your mail, you get a visit from your local animal control or even an L.A.P.D. The detective will be investigating you for attempted murder charges. Just keep your dog away from making aggressive actions against the mailman, simple.

• Letter carriers and dog owners should avoid letting the family pet see the mail carrier take or hand letters back and forth. Especially in their homes, dogs could view this physical activity as an attack on the dog’s owner. And if so, the dog will likely go for your hand, causing potentially long-term damage or worse.

• The Post Office will usually warn homeowners, but your packages will be available for pickup at some point. So now you will have to drive to the postal office, wait in line, show your I.D. and waste a lot of time to get your mail. Watch the video in support of U.S.P.S. carrier Dog Bite Prevention here.

Even when all parties take extra precautions, a postal worker risks being bitten by a dog. And if so, this innocent worker could suffer life-threatening injuries to their person.

Remember, dog bites can involve shredded muscles, destroyed nerves, facial and other bodily disfigurements, permanent adhesions, and more. Dogs are known to lunge at heads, shoulders, necks, arms, hands, and other parts of your torso, neck, legs, arms, and torso. Trust me, the last thing you want is a dog taking a bite out of you.

What are the Most Dangerous Cities for a Dog Attack Against a Postal Worker?

Dogs attacked a total of 5,803 USPS employees in 2019. The top 20 rankings comprise 30 cities, as some towns reported the same number of attacks:

How Does Your City Rank For 2019 Postal Employee Dog Attacks?

Houston, Texas, has the most assaults by dogs against letter carriers. But my city, L.A., ranks number two, with 74 attacks. So it makes sense that letter carriers would be more alert here and have the technology to warn them of areas where loose dogs are present.

City	State	2019
HOUSTON	TX	85
LOS ANGELES	CA	74
CHICAGO	IL	54
CLEVELAND	OH	51
DALLAS	TX	40
COLUMBUS	OH	35
PHILADELPHIA	PA	34
TOLEDO	OH	32
DENVER	CO	30
SAN DIEGO	CA	29
BALTIMORE	MD	29
LOUISVILLE	KY	28
SAN ANTONIO	TX	28
FORT WORTH	TX	27
DETROIT	MI	26
CINCINNATI	OH	26
SACRAMENTO	CA	25
KANSAS CITY	MO	25
EL PASO	TX	25
MEMPHIS	TN	24
PHOENIX	AZ	23
ST LOUIS	MO	22
ALBUQUERQUE	NM	22
LONG BEACH	CA	21
JACKSONVILLE	FL	21
INDIANAPOLIS	IN	21
CHARLOTTE	NC	21
SEATTLE	WA	21
MINNEAPOLIS	MN	20
DAYTON	OH	20

A national map with statistics for each city can be accessed at this link. For more data related to your area, please get in touch with your local U.S.P.S. Corporate Communications professional. Check out our dog bite law blog for more info on dog bite risks, such as the most dangerous breed and reporting dog attacks.

Also, we can assist you in cases where you were hit or injured by a postal truck or other vehicles on your delivery route. Call our attorneys at (213) 596-9642 to learn more about how we can help you get money for your troubles.