Those who regularly read my musings here know that I tend to write a lot about dogs. One reason why is that I like dogs. I miss having the companionship of dogs such as those I had in my younger adult life — first, Pedro and then Cochise.
But I also write about dogs quite frequently because in my daily walks around the neighborhood I am sometime accosted by a loose and often frightening dog. My latest tormenter is a female pit bull that gets free occasionally from her yard near Evalon Avenue and First Street in Beaumont. Fortunately, this dog can be fended off by doing a Zorro imitation with a stick. The dogs in the photo above have thankfully remained behind a fence at their residence on McFaddin Avenue. I have the feeling they just don’t like me.
I bring up the subject of dogs once again because of the news that the Houston district of the U.S. Postal Service, which includes Beaumont and Port Arthur, saw the largest number of dogs biting their employees last year with 108 bites. Following Houston was Santa Ana, Calif., with 94; Indianapolis metro area, 83; Bay Valley, Calif., and the Cincinnati metro area with 82 bites. In case your interested in a year-by-year study of dogs biting mail carriers nationwide:
1999 — 2,729
2000 — 2,721
2001 — 3,158
2002 — 3,070
2003 — 3,743
2004 — 3,429
2005 — 3,249
Even though numbers have declined that is still too many mail folks getting bit. And if the dogs don’t hesitate biting a man or woman in a spiffy uniform they sure as hell won’t give a moment’s thought to biting me.
This is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. I didn’t know that there was such a week but it doesn’t surprise me. And I also think it is good to remind people that they shouldn’t let their dogs eat people. Here are some tips the postal service gives to help avoid being dog bit:
# Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
# If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
# Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
# While letter carriers are discouraged from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.
# If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
The USPS also provides information on how to be a responsible dog owner:
# Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dog in any situation.
# When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room.
# Don’t let your child take mail from the letter carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog’s instinct is to protect the family.
# Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Humane Society of the United States statistics reflect that dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to be involved in a biting incident than neutered or spayed dogs.
# 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.
All of which sounds like excellent advice. So have a happy National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Sleep tight and don’t let the dogs bite.