In most cases, dogs are friendly and want to greet new people with a wag of the rail. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, dogs feel aggressive toward people they don’t know, and that can be a problem.

Imagine being a mail carrier who has to come into contact with many animals each day. The stress of knowing which is likely to attack and which is friendly would be immense. The sudden growl of a dog could cause you to back away and refuse to deliver mail, too.

That’s a problem in Pennsylvania, just as it is in the rest of the United States. These workers need to be protected, and their carrier bags and mace may not be enough to save them during an attack.

The problem in Pennsylvania is that more mail carriers are being attacked and bitten by dogs. In 2016, around 7,000 mail carriers were bitten. One-hundred and fourteen mail carriers were bitten in Central Pennsylvania alone. These individuals are literally putting their lives in danger each time they come into contact with these vicious animals.

Why has there been an increase in the number of mail carriers suffering from bites? One explanation is that they work more hours now than in the past. The United States Postal Service now has some employees working Sundays. Additionally, many of the deliveries made today are packages, which must go to the home’s door, not just to the mailbox.

Owners need to take responsibility for their animals. If they are aggressive, the animals need to be kept securely contained in the home or on a leash to prevent incidents resulting in dog bites.

Source: WNEP, “More Mail Carriers Being Bitten by Dogs in Central PA,” Kristina Papa, accessed July 04, 2017