UNDATED (NewsDakota.com) – Around 10 dog attacks were reported in North Dakota in 2017, with mail carriers now on high alert after two attacks took place in Williston. South Dakota has seen similar numbers, with nine attacks taking place in 2017.
Last year, there were 6,244 attacks in the U.S. on postal service workers, with cities such as Houston, Los Angeles, or St Louis being particularly hard hit. The postal service is aiming to cut down on these attacks through the use of a device that mail carriers use to alert other carriers of the existence of aggressive dogs at particular homes.
To reduce the chances of attacks occurring on carriers visiting your home, it is vital to take safety precautions the whole family should be aware of.
Advice from Postal Service Workers
In a KFYRTV report, postal worker Veronica Fullard of Williston advised that the approach to potential attacks should be two-pronged. The first step is to use one’s postal satchel to block the dog, and, if the attack persists, a repellent can be used. Bribing troublesome dogs with food is frowned upon, as dogs may be allergic to specific ingredients, and postal carriers could be liable for giving them unauthorized treats.
Nationwide Efforts
In other cities, greater efforts are being made to protect postal workers. In San Diego, for instance, any customer who requests a package pickup at their home must disclose if a dog will be present when the pickup is made. Any mail carrier who feels threatened by a dog can stop delivering mail to an address; clients must then pick up their parcels at the post office.
Who is Liable if a Dog Attacks a Mail Carrier?
Some states (such as South Dakota) have a ‘one bite rule’. This means that an owner won’t necessarily be liable if their dog has bitten a mail carrier or anyone else for the first time. There are exceptions, of course. That is, if an owner knows his or her dog has violent tendencies and allows it to reach the mail carrier, he or she could be deemed liable. Half of all states have strict liability laws; that is, the victim does not have the onus of proving that the dog owner acted carelessly.
In North Dakota, case law (rather than statute) prevails. Generally, the burden of proof does like with the victim, who has to prove (among other things) that the owner failed to prevent his or her dog from causing injury (having had a duty to do so), thereby causing damage or injury.
Lowering Bite Risks
The key to reducing bite risks lies in improved education for dog owners. To begin with, any dog that does not know how to socialize with other dogs or humans should attend canine behavior classes. Secondly, owners need to be very careful when the doorbell rings. Children should not be allowed to open the door and take a package, in case the dog becomes over protective. In short, if you know the dog is likely to act up when someone rings the doorbell, don’t take chances and put at least two closed doors between the dog and the mailman.
New technology and laws allowing postal service workers to refrain from visiting homes with aggressive dogs should reduce the risk of dog bites. However, individual homeowners need to work on personal responsibility, taking the steps they need to train their dog, and to reduce the risk it poses to any unfamiliar person knocking at the door – including mail carriers.