INDIANA – The United States Postal Service (USPS) is urging dog owners to take proactive steps to prevent dog bites, highlighting the significant financial burden that can result from such incidents.
According to Janet Ruiz, director of Strategic Communications for the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per dog bite and related injury claim reached $58,545 in 2023. This figure underscores the profound financial implications for dog owners whose pets attack someone, including their postal letter carrier.
To help ensure the safety of postal employees, neighbors, and families, the USPS has issued the following crucial tips for dog owners:
- Secure Your Pet: Properly securing family pets is essential, especially when expecting mail delivery. If a carrier delivers to your front door, the USPS advises placing your dog in a separate room before opening the door. They caution that some dogs may unexpectedly charge through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors.
- Instruct Family Members: Parents should educate children and other family members not to take mail directly from the letter carrier. A dog might misinterpret this action as a threatening gesture.
- Utilize Informed Delivery: The USPS recommends signing up for their free Informed Delivery service at Informed Delivery – Mail & Package Notifications | USPS. This service provides advanced notifications about incoming mail and packages, allowing owners to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their carrier before it arrives.
The Postal Service emphasizes that the safety of its employees is a paramount concern. If a letter carrier feels threatened by a dog or encounters a loose or unleashed dog, the dog owner may be required to pick up their mail at the local Post Office until the carrier is confident that the pet has been properly restrained. Furthermore, if a dog is observed roaming freely in a neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors may also be asked to collect their mail from the Post Office as a safety measure.
The USPS hopes that by following these simple yet effective guidelines, dog owners can help reduce the number of dog bite incidents and protect their communities and postal carriers.
