By George Flood
Last year nearly 5,900 letter carriers were attacked by dogs in the United States, including 84 occurrences in Northern New Jersey. But that pales in comparison to the more than 4.5 million people — most of them children and seniors — who are bitten by dogs each year. With the arrival of warm weather and an estimated half-million dogs residing in the Garden State, postal officials are making a concerted effort to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone by sharing safety tips that emphasize responsible dog ownership.
“Dog bites can inflict considerable physical and emotional damage to victims,” emphasizes USPS Northern New Jersey District Safety Manager Rita Ridley. “By following a few simple responsible dog ownership tips, you can make our New Jersey neighborhoods much safer for your letter carrier, meter reader, newspaper delivery person, and the neighbors’ children,” adds Ms. Ridley.
The postal safety manager recommends the following tips for responsible dog ownership:
· Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog such as wrestling, tug of war, or siccing your dog on another person. It’s essential that your dog recognize members of your family as dominant figures not to be challenged.
· For everyone’s safety, don’t allow your dog to roam. Make your pet a member of your family. Dogs that spend too much time tethered to a dog house or in the backyard have a much greater chance of developing aggressive behavioral problems.
· Stay on the safe side. Help your dog become accustomed to a variety of situations. If you don’t know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If you think your dog could panic in a crowd, leave him or her at home. If your dog may overreact to visitors or delivery people, keep him or her in another room.
“We are not anti-dog, but pro-responsibility,” advises Ms. Ridley. “Dog owners can help us prevent serious injuries and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone by realizing their important role in dog bite prevention,” concludes the USPS Northern NJ Safety Manager.
