Latest news with #LeeannTheriault
Yahoo
2 days ago
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- Yahoo
U.S. Postal Service brings awareness to dog bite prevention
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Last year, incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service workers rose by more than 6,000 cases. As part of the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organization is offering information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of its employees. See a paw print sticker on a mailbox? Why you shouldn't remove it The month-long campaign begins on Sunday, June 1. This year's theme is 'Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track.' For those who want to help spread news of the campaign, you can use the hashtag #dogbiteawareness. 'The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely,' USPS employee safety and health awareness manager Leeann Theriault said. 'All dogs – regardless of breed, size or age – have the potential to bite.' 'Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable,' Theriault continued. 'The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is to keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.' Dogs may attack not only to defend their territory, but also when they feel startled, anxious or unwell. It's not just about bad or aggressive dogs – it's about unpredictable moments. Some advice given by USPS to help postal workers is to keep your dog in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes to your house. If you go outside, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so your dog doesn't slip out or bust through it unexpectedly. If you are outside with your dog while mail is being delivered, make sure your dog is secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash. Never accept mail from your mail carrier in the presence of your dog. Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier because the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child. Mail carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog's territory. Man mauled to death by dogs in California, 1 arrested Mail carriers are trained to: Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard. Never startle a dog. Keep their eyes on any dog. Never assume a dog will not bite. Never attempt to pet or feed a dog Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping. If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog, such as a mail satchel, and to use dog repellent, if necessary. Mail carriers have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes. A dog alert feature on carriers' handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards must be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to addresses where a dog may interfere with delivery. When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service can be stopped. Until the carrier feels safe enough to restart delivery, the mail will have to be picked up at the dog owner's local Post Office. If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office box to receive mail. When a postal employee suffers an injury from a dog attack, it can cost the dog owner thousands of dollars because they could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee. Dogs and cats can also suffer from allergies, but there are ways to help our furry friends By using USPS Informed Delivery, a free service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. Millions of customers have enrolled since the service was launched in 2017. Sign up at . This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier will arrive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dog Attacks on Postal Workers Are on the Rise, According to USPS. Last Year There Were More Than 6,000
There were over 6,000 dog attacks on postal workers in 2024, the USPS said, marking a 200-case increase from 2023 California and Los Angeles rank as the top state and city, respectively, with the highest number of incidents The agency released the statistics as part of its National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, which kicks off Sunday, June 1 For some letter carriers in California last year, dogs weren't exactly man's best friend. The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced in a press release on Thursday, May 29, that the number of incidents involving dog attacks on the agency's employees rose to over 6,000 in 2024. That is up 200 more cases from 2023. Of the top 10 states with the greatest number of dog bites towards postal workers in 2024, California was ranked first with 701. That was followed by Texas with 438, Ohio with 350, Illinois with 344, New York with 322, Pennsylvania with 316, Michigan with 231, Florida with 210, Missouri with 207 and North Carolina with 169. Meanwhile, Los Angeles led the top American cities with the most dog bites at 77, according to the USPS. Coming in second was Houston with 65, and followed by Chicago with 57; St. Louis with 47; Cincinnati with 44; Dallas with 43; Kansas City and Cleveland tied with 40; San Diego with 35; Denver with 34; and San Antonio and Philadelphia tied with 32. The latest statistics coincide with the Postal Service's National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign that will begin on Sunday, June 1, with the theme, 'Don't let your dog bite the hand that serves you.' As part of the campaign, the agency is offering tips to dog owners on how to control their pets when a letter carrier approaches to deliver mail to their residence. The tips include keeping canines inside the home or behind a fence, away from the door or another room, and on a leash. The USPS also recommends that children do not take the mail directly from the letter carrier since the dog may interpret the carrier as a threat to the child. Canine attacks on postal employees can cost owners thousands of dollars, according to the agency, in terms of "medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering" for the worker. The USPS also stated that their letter carriers are trained when it comes to observing dogs in an area and being aware of a potentially dangerous situation. Among the things they've learned include not startling a dog, keeping their eyes on the animal and not attempting to pet or feed it. Mail service could also be stopped if the letter carrier feels unsafe around a dangerous dog on the route, added the USPS, which means the dog owner's mail would have to be picked up at their local post office. If the issue is not resolved, then the dog owner may have to rent a post office box to continue receiving mail. 'Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable,' Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in the press release. "The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Last November, two letter carriers in the Dedham area of Massachusetts were attacked by canines in separate incidents as they were delivering the mail. 'Both Adam and Jeanette are back to work, and we commend their healing strengths, positive attitudes and commitments to their jobs,' Dedham Animal Control said in a statement at the time, as reported by Fox affiliate WFXT. 'Both of these incidents were preventable and neither was the fault of the Letter Carrier.' In 2022, Pamela Jane Rock, a Florida postal worker, died after she was attacked by five dogs when her postal vehicle broke down while on the job. Authorities said that Rock, 61, was waiting for help with her vehicle when the dogs broke through a fence, escaped and mauled her, NBC News reported. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
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- Yahoo
Dog attacks on postal workers continue to increase in New Mexico, USPS data shows
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – For the second year in a row, the number of dog attacks on postal workers in New Mexico increased, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Data from USPS shows there were 48 postal employees throughout New Mexico who were attacked by dogs in 2024, which is an increase from 45 in 2023 and 24 in 2022. In Albuquerque, the number of dog attacks decreased to 20 in 2024, compared to 26 in 2023. Across the country, there were more than 6,000 dog attacks on postal workers last year, an increase from the year prior. The U.S. Postal Service ranked the top 20 cities in the country for these types of incidents. Albuquerque made the top 20 ranking and tied with three other cities for the 17th spot. The city with the most reported dog attacks on USPS workers was Los Angeles, with 77 incidents. The top three states for dog attacks on letter carriers in 2024 were California, Texas, and Ohio, according to U.S. Postal Service data. A list of the top 10 states can be found below: The U.S. Postal Service shared this data as part of its month-long National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, which begins on June 1. 'Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities,' Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, stated in a news release. The USPS also shared the following information about how dog owners can help with safe mail delivery: Secure your dog before the carrier approaches your property to minimize any potentially dangerous interactions. Keep your dog in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes to your house. If you go outside, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so your dog doesn't slip out or bust through it unexpectedly. If you are outside with your dog while mail is being delivered, make sure your dog is secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash. Never accept mail from your mail carrier in the presence of your dog. Pet owners should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier because the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child. The USPS said if an employee is injured by a dog attack, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee. If a carrier feels unsafe, mail service can be stopped, and would have to be picked up at the local post office. If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a post office box to receive mail. For more information on the USPS campaign, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
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- Yahoo
Dog attacks on USPS workers rose last year. See cities with most attacks.
Incidents involving dog attacks against U.S. Postal Service workers rose to more than 6,000 cases last year — a jump of at least 200 cases since 2023, the USPS said. California saw the greatest number of incidents involving dog attacks, with 701 in 2024. Texas ranked second with 438 incidents, followed by Ohio with 350 incidents, the USPS said in a news release Thursday. Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Missouri and North Carolina rounded out the top 10 states with the most dog incidents. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for dog attacks in 2024, according to the USPS, and the number of incidents in each city: Los Angeles — 77Houston — 65Chicago — 57St. Louis — 47Cincinnati — 44Dallas — 43Kansas City — 40Cleveland — 40San Diego — 35Denver — 34 Dog owners might not realize their animals can attack a postal worker, but there are steps owners can take to ensure the safety of a carrier and that their mail won't be stopped, the USPS said. "Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable," Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in the USPS news release, during a promotional week to raise awareness around such incidents. "The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely," Theriault said. The USPS recommends securing dogs before the mail carrier arrives, as mail is generally delivered at a similar time every day, or keeping a dog secured on a leash if it is outside when a carrier arrives. It also says children should not take mail directly from a carrier, because the dog may view the person as a threat to the child. A postal worker from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, strongly encourages all dog owners to take precautions. "I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment," Jonah Helfrich said in the USPS news release. Biden makes first public remarks since cancer diagnosis announcement Sean "Diddy" Combs' former assistant alleges he threatened to kill her multiple times No word from Hamas on Israeli-backed ceasefire proposal
CBS News
3 days ago
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- CBS News
Dog attacks on USPS workers rose last year. These cities saw the most attacks.
Mail theft on the rise as USPS fails to secure keys for mailboxes Incidents involving dog attacks against U.S. Postal Service workers rose to more than 6,000 cases last year — a jump of at least 200 cases since 2023, the USPS said. California saw the greatest number of incidents involving dog attacks, with 701 in 2024. Texas ranked second with 438 incidents, followed by Ohio with 350 incidents, the USPS said in a news release Thursday. Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Missouri and North Carolina rounded out the top 10 states with the most dog incidents. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for dog attacks in 2024, according to the USPS, and the number of incidents in each city: Los Angeles — 77 Houston — 65 Chicago — 57 St. Louis — 47 Cincinnati — 44 Dallas — 43 Kansas City — 40 Cleveland — 40 San Diego — 35 Denver — 34 Dog owners might not realize their animals can attack a postal worker, but there are steps owners can take to ensure the safety of a carrier and that their mail won't be stopped, the USPS said. "Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable," Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in the USPS news release, during a promotional week to raise awareness around such incidents. "The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely," Theriault said. The USPS recommends securing dogs before the mail carrier arrives, as mail is generally delivered at a similar time every day, or keeping a dog secured on a leash if it is outside when a carrier arrives. It also says children should not take mail directly from a carrier, because the dog may view the person as a threat to the child. A postal worker from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, strongly encourages all dog owners to take precautions. "I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment," Jonah Helfrich said in the USPS news release.
