Dog Bite Awareness week is June 14th
– June 20th. Any dog can bite and all
attacks are preventable through responsible pet ownership and knowing how to
react when confronted by a dog. Dog attacks are a nationwide issue and not just a
postal problem.
Charlie (pictured above) belongs to Fort Myers
Postmaster Nefty Pluguez and his family.
“Charlie is a sweet dog, but he is not as innocent as he looks. All dogs can bite,” said Pluguez.
The Postal Service offers the following safety
tips:
· When
a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog
in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have
been known to burst through screen doors or plate glass windows to attack
visitors.
· Parents
should remind children and other family members not to take mail directly from
letter carriers in the presence of the family pet. The dog may view the letter
carrier handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
· If a
letter carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed,
the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office or another facility
until the letter carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is
roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick
up their mail at the area’s Post Office.
