I was in sixth grade, covering my brother’s newspaper route during football season, when an icy gray Weimaraner tore out of his yard.
“Freeze!” someone yelled. As I did, the beast sunk his teeth through my favorite pair of white shorts and deeply into my butt cheek.
I never saw him coming, and I hate those dogs to this very day.
Related Articles
Why reptiles, amphibians make great pets
Wild turkeys roam freely in Bay Area suburbs, but where exactly are they from?
Why are my cats having trouble adjusting to new catio?
Keeping your pets safe, happy during Fourth of July
Ducks thrive in Sunnyvale pool; their welcome is wearing thin
Which is to say that I feel the pain of U.S. Postal Service workers who must face off with ferocious Fidos on their daily rounds (and not just because my first dog, Roark, returned the honor and set upon a mail carrier some 30 years ago).
Today, we bring some good news: Fewer California canines attacked mail carriers in 2024 than they did in 2023!
Overall, bites of intrepid letter carriers in California dropped 3.4%, from 726 in 2023 to 701 in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Postal Service. It was part of a happier long-term trend, in which dog bites of postal workers in California have fallen 12% since 2018.
But for all the good news, many big cities logged more attacks last year.
In Los Angeles, the number of dog bites on mail carriers jumped from 65 to 77. In Stockton, from 8 to 18; San Jose, 8 to 10; San Pablo, 2 to 6; Hayward, 3 to 6; Walnut Creek, 2 to 5; Oakland, 17 to 18.
Things held steady in places like San Francisco (20), East Palo Alto (3) Concord and Fairfield (1 each).
Bites dropped in more than 50 cities, including San Leandro (from 4 to 3), Livermore (3 to 2), Pleasanton (2 to 1), Antioch (3 to 1), Richmond (3 to 1), Napa (5 to 2) and Sacramento 26 to 21).
It’s summer, folks, which means it’s time for the USPS’ annual National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, which seeks to remind us that these bites are preventable — and potentially quite expensive for dog owners.
The average cost for a dog bite claim is some $65,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Dog owners could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement and pain and suffering if postal workers are hurt.
Even the friendliest dogs will do what they think is necessary to protect the homestead from intruders. They might bite if they’re startled, anxious or sick. It’s not just about bad or aggressive dogs, USPS says; it’s also about unpredictable moments.
But it’s not hard to prevent bites, and the USPS offers these suggestions:
• Use the “Informed Delivery” service, which lets you digitally preview incoming mail and packages (informeddelivery.usps.com) so you know when to expect a delivery.
• Know when the mail arrives each day, and ensure that your dog is inside, behind a fence or on a leash.
• Make sure doors are actually closed so pooches can’t burst through.
• Don’t let kids don’t take mail directly from a carrier, as the dog might conclude that’s threatening.
Carriers know to make noises or rattle fences before entering a yard. If they’re charged, they’re trained to stand their ground, protect themselves with the mail satchel as shield, and spray dog repellent if necessary.
There’s a “dog alert” feature on those handheld scanners they use, which can spread the word about potentially troublesome territories. If carriers feel unsafe, your home mail service could be halted and you’d have to pick up mail at the post office.
“The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely. All dogs — regardless of breed, size or age — have the potential to bite,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, in a prepared statement.
Was your city one of those in California where dogs bit postal workers? Find out here: USPS dog bites 2023 and 2024