Louisiana Needs to Fight a Different Kind of Bite

Lafayette, LA (KPEL News) - Despite Louisiana's leash laws, far too many people don't keep their dogs confined. Ask an postal carrier how dangerous that can be. It becomes an  unnecessary occupational hazard that can have disastrous results. When we in Louisiana say "fight the bite," mosquitos leap to mind. But the catch phrase can be applied to dogs and leash laws, and it's easier to prevent a bite for our mail persons than it is to keep the pesky blood-suckers away.

Louisiana's leash law states:

No person shall suffer or permit any dog in his possession, or kept by him about his premises, to run at large on any unenclosed land, or trespass upon any enclosed or unenclosed lands of another.

The United States Postal Service National Dog Bite Awareness campaign is going on this week. This year’s theme is “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.”

Louisiana ranks No.16 in the nation for dog bites, with 113 incidents in 2023.

Here are the top five cities in Louisiana reporting dog attacks.

Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager of Employee Safety and Health Awareness says:

Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury.

Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year. As part of the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organization is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of our employees.

WHAT CAN DOG OWNERS DO?

Louisiana can easily improve our ranking in the national statistics by taking a few easy steps to protect our mail people from being attacked and bitten.

Letter carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as nonaggressive. Dogs are generally protective of their turf and dog owners have an important responsibility to control them to ensure safe mail delivery.

Most people know about what time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.

When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep dogs:

• Inside the house or behind a fence;
• Away from the door or in another room; or
• On a leash.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.

Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.