Wait a Minute Mr. Postman! - Dog bite statistics - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

You've probably heard the jokes about the postman and the dog, but the reality is that the letter carrier is at a greater risk to be bitten because they come in contact with a lot of animals during their daily duties. It's not very fun to laugh about. There's even a week dedicated to it called National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

In 2011, Alabama letter carriers were bitten 36 times by dogs. There have been 28 dog bites reported by postal workers since October 11.

There are several organizations looking to reduce and prevent dog attacks. The U.S. Postal Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), www.aap.org;  the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), www.microsurg.org; the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), www.avma.org; the Insurance Information Institute (III), www.iii.org; and Prevent The Bite (PTB), www.preventthebite.org are driving home the message that dog bites are a nationwide issue and that education can help prevent dog attacks to people of all ages.   

The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. Letter carriers fearing for their safety due to a loose or unrestrained pet may stop delivery and ask homeowners to pick up their mail at the Post Office until the pet is restrained.

In cases where a carrier sees a dog roaming and can't discern where it resides, delivery could be interrupted to the entire neighborhood.  

Harsh Realities

• Nationwide last year, 5,577 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities. Los Angeles topped the list with 83 postal employees attacked in 2011. Beyond the needless pain and suffering, medical expenses from dog attacks cost the Postal Service nearly $1.2 million last year. 

• "Children are three times more likely than adults to be bitten by a dog," said PTB President Kathy Voigt, whose daughter Kelly, was mauled by a neighborhood dog. "Education is essential to keeping children safe from dog bites." The attack prompted their creation of Prevent The Bite, a non-profit organization that promotes dog bite prevention to young children.
  
• AAP President Dr. Robert Block added, "Parents, please don't ever leave a young child unsupervised around any dog, even a dog well-known to your family. Even very young children should be taught not to tease or hurt animals. And with school almost over for the year, children will be spending more time in parks, at friends' homes, and other places where they may encounter dogs. They need to know what to do to minimize the risk of being bitten."
  
• 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.   Dr. Michael Neumeister, ASRM president said, "Even the friendliest dog may bite when startled or surprised. Be cautious, once a child is scarred they are scarred for life. 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."
  
•  "Any dog can bite," said Dr. René Carlson, AVMA president. "If it is physically or mentally unhealthy, is in pain, feels threatened, or is protecting its food or a favorite toy, it can bite. It is important to understand how dogs behave and how our behavior may be interpreted by a dog."
  
• "Dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims paid out in 2011," said Dr. Robert Hartwig, III president and chief economist.  

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.
  • 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.

Being a Responsible Dog Owner

• Obedience training can teach a dog to behave properly and help owners control their dogs.
• When letter carriers and others who are not familiar with your dog come to your home, keep your dog inside, in another room away from the door.
• In protecting their territory, dogs may interpret people's actions as a threat.  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. 

American Academy of Pediatricians

"Parents, please don't ever leave a young child unsupervised around any dog, even a dog well-known to your family," said AAP President Dr. Robert Block. "Even very young children should be taught not to tease or hurt animals. And with school almost over for the year, children will be spending more time in parks, at friends' homes, and other places where they may encounter dogs. They need to know what to do to minimize the risk of being bitten."

American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery

"Most children love dogs and like to put their face up close to the dog's face. Parents should never permit this," said Dr. Michael Neumeister, president of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. "Even the friendliest dog may bite when startled or surprised.  Be cautious, once a child is scarred they are scarred for life. 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."

American Veterinary Medical Association

Any dog can bite. Protect your family and community and the welfare of dogs with early education programs. The Blue Dog Parent Guide and CD is targeted and tested for children from 3 to 6 years old and is intended as a tool to be incorporated as part of a more comprehensive prevention program. Visit www.avma.org/dogbite for information on dog bite prevention material from the AVMA and its National Dog Bite Prevention Week partners. 

Insurance Information Institute

Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners' insurance liability claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability if your dog injuries another person or damages someone else's property. The best way to protect yourself is to prevent your dog from biting anyone in the first place.

Prevent The Bite

A nonprofit organization devoted to keeping children safe from dog bites, Prevent The Bite meets the national standards of education, and makes it possible for anyone to teach children how to avoid being bitten.

INFORMATION SOURCE: U.S. Postal Service