USPS: Charlotte among top 20 cities for mail carrier dog attacks

According to the United States Postal Service, mail carriers were attacked by dogs a total of 6,244 times in 2017 -- a decrease of 500 attacks from 2016. In 2018, USPS officials want to continue improving those numbers by spreading the word about how dog owners can help protect their mail carriers.

Some tips suggested by the USPS include:

Don't try to run: Tips to fend off dog attacks

Another way USPS is working to reduce attacks is through an online application that alerts mail carriers to dogs on their delivery routes.

This information is provided to carriers on their delivery scanners which send alerts if an unleashed dog is reported in a delivery area.

“The scanners that our carriers use to confirm a customer’s delivery include a feature for them to indicate the presence of a dog at an individual address,” said U.S. Postal Service Safety Director Linda DeCarlo. “This information is particularly helpful for substitute carriers who fill in for regular carriers on their days off.”

With the safety of their works being a priority, the USPS allows carriers who feel threatened by a dog that is loose or unleashed o bring the package back to the post office for the owner to pick up. 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.

According to the USPS, these are the top 30 cities where postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2017, with the leader, Houston, recording a total of 71 incidents. Charlotte, which recorded 27 attacks, is the only North Carolina city on the list.

“We’re encouraged by the decrease in dog attacks,” said DeCarlo. “The totals are still too high, but we’re confident that with continuing education and dog bite prevention training, along with advancing technology, we can keep more people safe and keep attacks trending downward.”