"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night," the old postal saying goes, "stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." And if there's ever an updated version written up, dogs should be included, for sure.
According to new research announced this week by the United States Postal Service, 5,879 postal employees were attacked by dogs in 2012 and, with 69 reported incidents, Los Angeles led the list of "vicious" cities where mail carriers were attacked.
"Many dogs are cherished members of their family and people believe their dog won't bite, but given the right circumstances, any dog can attack," said Ken Snavely, acting postmaster of Los Angeles. "Dogs do not reason like people do and they will react to their instinct to protect their family and territory. Working with animal behavior experts, the Postal Service has developed tips to avoid dog attacks, and for dog owners, tips for practicing responsible pet ownership."
Here's the postal service's complete list of 2012's "vicious" dog-biting cities and the number of recorded postal attacks:
- Los Angeles, CA - 69
- San Antonio, TX and Seattle, WA - 42
- Chicago, IL - 41
- San Francisco, CA - 38
- Philadelphia, PA - 34
- Detroit, MI - 33
- St. Louis, MO - 32
- Baltimore, MD and Sacramento, CA - 29
- Houston, TX and Minneapolis, MN - 27
- Cleveland and Dayton, OH - 26
- Buffalo and Brooklyn, NY - 24
- Denver, CO - 23
- Dallas, TX and Tacoma, WA - 21
- Wichita, KS - 20
The postal service said it released its annual dog attack listing as a precursor to National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 19-25, which was established to raise public awareness about dog attacks and how to avoid them.
Snavely said the several thousand dog attacks his postal troops suffered were significant, but just a fraction of the 4.7 million dog attacks reported throughout the country last year.
"If our letter carriers deem your loose dog to be a threat, you'll be asked to pick up your mail at the post office until it's safe to deliver," said Snavely, who also noted that in situations where a dog roams the neighborhood, delivery to the owner's neighbors could be curtailed as well.
Also, when letter carriers come to a customer's door, pet owners are asked to place dogs in a separate room and close the door, as many canines have been known to jump through screen and glass doors.
Here are also some tips on how to avoid being bitten by a dog, provided by the organizational supporters of National Dog Bite Prevention Week:
- Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
- Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch you.
- If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
- Never approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined.
- Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
- Anyone wanting to pet a dog should first obtain permission from the owner.
- Always let a dog see and sniff you before petting the animal.
- If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
- If you are knocked down by a dog, curl into a ball and protect your face with your hands.