KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Statistics say mail carriers in the state were attacked by a dog more than 250 times in 2020, putting Michigan up there in the top 10 states for dog attacks.
And for local Kalamazoo area mail carriers, one bite is too many.
On Tuesday, May 24, mail carriers are joining together at the Kalamazoo Miller Road Post Office location to learn how to stay a step ahead of biting dogs. Renowned professional dog trainer Hector Hernandez, along with his dog, is set to demonstrate how to prevent dog bite injuries, especially with warmer weather increasing the chances of an attack.
As they go through practical exercises to learn how to mitigate the risks, mail carriers are reminding residents that they can take a few steps as well to ensure safe mail delivery.
If a 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. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors.
Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.
Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a 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 until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained.
If a 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.
