Corral letter: Dog attacks
Whatever the reasons, dog attacks are a serious problem for the entire community, and not just our letter carriers.
In Boise last year, dogs bit over 30 letter carriers and interfered with a significant number of mail deliveries. Fortunately, most dog bites can be prevented through responsible pet ownership.
If a letter carrier needs to deliver a certified letter or a package to you, put your dog into a separate room before opening your door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers.
Our letter carriers are vigilant and dedicated, but we may be forced to stop mail delivery at an address if a letter carrier is threatened by a vicious dog. We can’t control people’s dogs; only dog owners can do that.
Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. We also recommend parents ask their children not to take mail directly from the letter carriers. A dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.
Help us to help you this spring and summer.
Dan Corral, Postmaster, Boise
This story was originally published June 9, 2017 at 10:02 PM with the headline "Corral letter: Dog attacks."