Community Corner

La Mesa Letter Carriers Attacked by Dogs Three Times in 2012

Dogs attacked La Mesa letter carriers three times in 2012, the same amount as the year before, and just a fraction of the 33 attacks that landed the city of San Diego as the sixth-worst ranked in the nation, according to new data from the United States Postal Service.

The USPS released the figures, with Los Angeles as the worst city for letter carriers, in advance of National Dog Bite Prevention Week from May 19-25.

"Many dogs are cherished members of their family and people believe their dog won’t bite, but given the right circumstances, any dog can attack," said Ken Snavely, acting postmaster of Los Angeles, in a statement. “Dogs do not reason like people do and they will react to their instinct to protect their family and territory."

Nearly 5,900 postal employees were attacked across the country in fiscal year 2012. San Diego, with 33, tied with Detroit, MI. In 2011, 68 postal employees were attacked in San Diego. 

La Mesa recorded three attacks in both 2012 and 2011.

When USPS workers feel threatened by loose dogs in neighborhoods, residents can be asked to come pick up their mail at the post office instead of having it delivered.

The top 10 most dangerous cities for letter carriers are:

  1. Los Angeles (69)
  2. San Antonio, TX and Seattle, WA (42)
  3. Chicago, IL (41)
  4. San Francisco, CA (38)
  5. Philadelphia, PA (34)
  6. Detroit, MI and San Diego, CA (33)
  7. St. Louis, MO (32)
  8. Baltimore, MD and Sacramento, CA (29)
  9. Houston, TX and Minneapolis, MN (27)
  10. Cleveland and Dayton, OH (26)
The Postal Service also offers the following tips about dog bite prevention:
  • Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs in any situation.
  • Dogs can be protective of their territory and may interpret the actions of a letter carrier as a threat. Please take precautions when accepting mail in the presence of your pet.
  • When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room or on a leash.
  • Dogs that haven’t been properly socialized, receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.


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