Milwaukee Letter Carriers have had 30 Dog Incidents in the Last Year

They walk the streets everyday delivering America’s mail, and during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 15-21, Milwaukee letter carriers want to deliver a special message to the community about working together to avoid the cost and pain of dog bites.

Last year, 6,549 postal employees were victimized by dogs. But that number pales in comparison to the more than 2 million children who received dog bite injuries in a single year.

“That’s why we want to deliver this important message,” said Milwaukee Postmaster Easton C. Wright. “Several of our letter carriers know first-hand about both the prevention and the pain of animal attacks, and we want to do whatever we can to help educate the community — especially parents and pet owners.”

More than 4.5 million people are bitten annually by dogs. At the Milwaukee Post Offices, there have been more than 30 dog incidents within the last year.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report that small children, the elderly, and letter carriers, in that order, are the most frequent victims of dog bites. Children are the majority of victims and are 900 times more likely to be bitten than letter carriers.

“Dog attacks are the most commonly reported childhood public health problem in the United States,” adds Wright. “Dog bite victims account for up to five percent of emergency room visits.”

Letter carriers would like to remind the public that they are discouraged from petting animals. They request that when the letter carrier comes to your home that you keep the dog inside and away from the door in another room or on a leash. Dogs can be protective of their territory and may interpret the actions of letter carriers as a threat.