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Pasadena Rated Among Worst U.S. Cities in Dog Attacks on Letter Carriers

City of Los Angeles ranks #1 nationally with 74 dog attacks; Pasadena #24 in the U.S. with 16 attacks last year

Published on Thursday, May 14, 2015 | 1:36 pm
 
Image: State Farm Insurance under Creative Commons License

Pasadena has received the unflattering distinction of being one worst cities in America when it comes to dog attacks on letter carriers in 2014.

Los Angeles County remained the dog bite capital of the nation last year, with 347 postal employees attacked by dogs while on duty. As a city, Pasadena ranked 24th worst in the U.S. with 16 attacks.

Dog attacks are a national safety issue, not just a postal problem. While over 5,700 letter carriers were attacked last year, that number pales in comparison to the 4.5 million Americans bitten every year ? half of whom are children ? according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) Between 12 and 20 people die every year from dog attacks according to the CDC.

Besides actual bites, uncontrolled dogs can knock victims down, resulting in fractures and other blunt force trauma injuries.

The problem is costly too. Dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2014, costing in excess of $530 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released its national ranking of the top 30 cities for dog attacks on May 14 to kick off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which runs May 16-22. This annual public outreach event provides information on responsible pet ownership, dog bite prevention tips and advice about medical treatment if attacked. The Postal Service, the medical community, veterinarians, animal care groups and the insurance industry work together during this campaign to educate the public that dog bites can be avoidable through awareness and responsible pet ownership.

“‘Don’t worry — my dog won’t bite’ is often heard by our letter carriers before they’re attacked,” said Ken Snavely, postmaster of Los Angeles. “Given the right circumstances, any dog can bite.”

The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. Letter carriers fearing for their safety due to an unrestrained pet may stop delivery and ask homeowners to pick up their mail at the Post Office until the situation is remedied. In cases where a dog is roaming, delivery could be interrupted to the entire neighborhood.

“Many dogs are cherished members of the family and owners do not believe their dog will bite,” said Snavely. “But dogs do not reason and think like their human owners and will react to their instinct to protect their territory.”

Working with animal behavior experts, USPS has developed tips for practicing responsible pet ownership and how to avoid dog attacks:

Be a Responsible Dog Owner

· When letter carriers and others who are not familiar with your dog come to your home, keep your dog restrained.
· If you open your door to your letter carrier to sign for an item or receive a package, first put your dog in another room and close the door.
· Do not take mail directly from your letter carrier in front of your dog. In protecting their territory, dogs may interpret people’s normal actions as a threat.
· Obedience training can teach a dog to behave properly and help owners control their dogs.
· Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to roam.
· Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters.
· Make sure your children know the responsible pet owner rules and keep doors and gates closed and the family pet secured.

Avoiding Attacks

· 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.
· 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 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.
· 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.

The Postal Service; the American Humane Association (AHA) americanhumane.org; the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), microsurg.org; the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), avma.org; the Insurance Information Institute (III), iii.org; State Farm Insurance, statefarm.com; and Prevent The Bite (PTB), preventthebite.org, are driving home the message that dog bites are a nationwide safety and health issue and that education can help prevent dog attacks to people of all ages.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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