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To wrap up Dog Bite prevention week – help request from mailmen across America

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

Dog bites are one of the hazards of being a postal carrier is the risk of being bitten by a dog.

Here are some tips from Katu.com:

“To spread the word that dog bites are preventable, the Postal Service is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Other organizations include the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and Prevent The Bite. The Verterinary Medical Association’s brochure, “What you should know about dog bite prevention,” offers tips on how to avoid being bitten, what dog owners can do to prevent their dogs from biting and how to treat dog bites.

Tips include picking a dog that is a good match for your home, socializing a pet and avoiding aggressive games. Meanwhile, the Postal Service offers these tips for avoiding a bite:

  • Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
  • 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.
  • Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
  • While letter carriers are discouraged from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them 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.

[Dog Bites can be prevented]

It’s good to be familiar with what you can do to prevent being bitten by a dog and how you can help our mail carriers remain safe from bites as well.

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