Postal Service promotes dog bite prevention week

Postal workers have to endure sleet, rain, heat, the gloom of the night and, true to the cliche, the overaggressive defenders of many homes -- the pet dog.
"'Don't worry -- my dog won't bite' is often heard by our letter carriers before they're attacked," U.S. Postal Service Western New York District Safety Manager Julianne Morgan said.

Postal workers in her district experienced 84 dog attacks last year, with the 22 attacks in Buffalo alone ranking it 18th in the nation, the same number as Miami.

Rochester also ranked on the national list in 25th place with 15 attacks. Elmira added to the district's total with a single attack, according to data from the Postal Service.
Nationwide, 5,577 postal employees were attacked last year, with Los Angeles the most dangerous at 83 attacks. Medical expenses from dog attacks cost the Postal Service nearly $1.2 million last year.
"Given the right circumstances, any dog can attack," Morgan said. "Dog attacks are a nationwide issue and not just a postal problem."
While postal workers are the clichéd targets for aggressive dogs, children are the main victims of attacks. Of the 4.7 million Americans bitten by dogs annually, more than half are children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A collaboration between the U.S. Postal Service, the medical community, veterinarians and the insurance industry, this is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, aimed at showing that dog bites are avoidable. The annual event provides dog-bite prevention tips, information on responsible pet ownership and advice about medical treatment if attacked.
The problem is more than of just the nip to the hand: Between 12 and 20 people die from dog attacks annually, according to the CDC. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2011 alone more than 29,000 reconstructive procedures were performed as a result of injuries caused by dog bites.
"Even the friendliest dog may bite when startled or surprised," said Dr. Michael Neumeister, president of the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. "We hear this line all the time 'The dog has never bitten anyone before.' A dog's reaction to being surprised or angered is not predictable," he said.
Avoiding attacks can be achieved by avoiding situations involving dogs, especially strange ones, according to the tips. Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog, and never approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined. Ask the owner before trying to pet a dog, and always let a dog see and sniff you before petting the animal. Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies. Don't run past a dog, and if a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact, they advised, and 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.
Dog owners can reduce the risk of their dog biting by providing obedience training. When people not familiar to the dog come to a home, such as a letter carrier, keep the dog inside in another room away from the door. Spaying or neutering a dog reduces the likelihood that a dog will roam, and reduces the risk of biting. Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters, according to the list.