See a paw print sticker on a mailbox? Why you shouldn’t remove it

(NEXSTAR) – Greater than 5,300 mail carriers have been bitten by canines final 12 months, a quantity the USPS is making an attempt to deliver down with a push for public consciousness in addition to a intelligent, if easy, sticker-based program.

The Paw Program which has been instituted in a number of cities throughout the U.S. because it was rolled out in 2020, makes use of a color-coded system to tell carriers who will not be conversant in the route which homes have canines. A yellow paw sticker means that there’s a canine residing close by, whereas an orange signifies that there’s a canine residing at that residence.

“We do ship out little playing cards, which tells them that we wish to place a little bit sticker on their mailbox,” Lakewood, Ohio Submit Workplace supervisor Tracy Carter informed Nexstar’s WJW.

The Paw Program goes into impact not simply in Lakewood however throughout the better Cleveland space.

“Cleveland ranked quantity 4 within the nation, we had 43 canine bites,” Carter mentioned. “That won’t look like rather a lot, however 43 staff bought injured.”

The USPS is releasing these statistics as a part of its Nationwide Canine Chew Consciousness Week, which begins on Sunday. The theme for 2023: “Even good canines have dangerous days.”

“When our mail carriers are bitten, it’s normally a ‘good canine’ that had not beforehand behaved in a menacing manner,” mentioned USPS Occupational Security and Well being Senior Director Linda DeCarlo. “In 2022, too many aggressive canines impacted the lives of our staff whereas delivering the mail. Please assist us cut back that quantity by being a accountable pet proprietor who secures their canine as we ship the mail.”  

Cities and states with probably the most bites

With regards to the communities with probably the most bites, the variety of assaults seems to be intently tied to the scale of the inhabitants. Houston led the nation’s cities with 57 in 2022, whereas probably the most bite-prone state was California.

With regards to states, the highest 10 are:

Mail carriers are skilled to be careful for probably harmful circumstances and to respect a canine’s territory, but when a canine does assault, they’re informed to face their floor and shield themselves with an object — reminiscent of a mail satchel — they’ll put between them and the animal’s mouth. Additionally they have canine repellent if the scenario warrants it.

“Not too long ago, I used to be delivering to a buyer’s mailbox and was almost bitten by their massive aggressive canine,” mentioned Swain Lowe, a letter provider in Manassas, Virginia. “Regardless of the canine being behind a fence, it nonetheless managed to leap over and cost me. Fortunately, I used to be conscious of it and remembered to not run however to show and use my satchel as a protect to stop what might have been a horrible chunk.”  

There are different issues the USPS urges residents to do to assist preserve each the provider and the canine secure.

Since mail carriers come by on an everyday route, canine homeowners can usually plan for his or her arrival by ensuring their canines are securely put up inside the home. Utilizing a leash, placing the canine in a room away from the door or ensuring they’re behind a fence are good security steps.

The USPS additionally warns that pet homeowners ought to remind their youngsters to not take mail straight from a letter provider, who the canine might see as a risk to the kid.