Dog Attacks Threaten Sacramento Postal Workers
The newest national rankings by the U.S. Postal Service for the number of dog attacks against its employees was released recently, and Sacramento was listed as number 16. National Dog Bite Awareness Week is from June 12 until June 18, and this seemed like a good time to make local residents aware of the dangers faced by Sacramento postal workers when delivering mail.
Postal Worker Attack Numbers Are Staggering
Around the nation, 5,800 or more postal workers were attacked while working, and last year, the number of Sacramento postal workers who were injured totaled 22. The postmaster in Sacramento, Doug Smith, commented on how owners can prevent dog attacks.
Penning in Your Dog Is Necessary to Protect Your Mail Delivery Carrier
Postmaster Doug Smith said to keep your pet in a fenced-in area when your mail carrier arrives. In some cases, dog bites have happened when the carrier knocks on a door to inform the resident they have a package. When the owner opens the door, a dog rushes out and attempts to attack the carrier.
Signing Up to Get Informed Delivery Can Help
Many residents of Sacramento get Informed Delivery, which tells them when mail is coming. Postmaster Smith said he encourages people to opt for this service because they not only know what mail, including packages, are coming their way but possibly the time they will arrive. This allows the resident to plan ahead to put their dog in a secure location where the postal worker won’t be threatened.
Tips When Facing an Aggressive Dog
Following are some tips that may help when facing an aggressive dog:
- Watch the dog’s body language. If the dog is growling and has its ears pressed back, don’t approach it.
- Remain calm. Don’t smile at the dog or try to calm it. Showing your teeth may be interpreted as a challenge by a dog.
- Avoid sudden movements and eye contact. The dog may consider this aggressive.
- If you can, ignore the dog, and it may calm down.
- Back away slowly if the animal continues acting aggressively.
- Climb a tree or up on top of a motor vehicle to get out of reach.
- If you end up on the ground, lie on your stomach and cover your neck and head with your arms. It can save your life.
- Carrying an ultrasonic dog deterrent might help because the high-frequency noise it emits makes the animal uncomfortable.
Tips for Homeowners Dealing With Dog Attacks
Homeowners can also benefit from tips to ensure that your mail carrier will not be injured by your dog. Some of them include:
- Keep your dog in the house or fenced backyard when you are expecting a mail delivery to the door. Some dogs are good jumpers. If your dog can leap over your fence, it should be kept indoors when you’re expecting the mail carrier. If the dog is in the house, ensure that your pet can’t get to the front door. Placing them in another room with the door shut can help. Don’t assume your screened-in or glass door will keep the dog in.
- Do not have your dog outdoors on a leash or chain. They can potentially get loose and harm the mail carrier.
- If your dog continues to cause problems, the USPS can refuse home delivery, and you’ll have to go to the post office to get your mail. A few minutes of advance planning to safely secure your pet can prevent this.
Dog Bite Liability
California law clearly states that the owner of a dog who bites someone is liable, even if the pet hasn’t bitten anyone before. My law office has handled many of these cases, obtaining compensation for the injured party either through the owner’s insurance or in civil court. A Sacramento postal worker or other individuals who have been attacked can face high medical costs, lost time from work, and endure physical and psychological damage from one of these attacks.
Sacramento Dog Bite Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento dog bite lawyer. When you’ve been seriously injured in an animal attack, you may want to find out about placing a claim to cover the cost of your injuries. Call me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for my free and friendly advice. You can contact me online also.
I’m honored to be a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates and Top 1 Percent.
Since 1982, my team of injury attorneys and I have successfully obtained compensation for many types of accidents, including dog bites, all varieties of traffic collisions, traumatic injuries, and wrongful deaths.
The links that follow show you how we’ve helped others:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/dog-snow-st-bernard-dog-winter-pet-1168663/
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