In 2023, more than 5,800 postal employees were attacked by dogs while on the job, according to the United States Postal Service.

As mail carriers make their rounds, Kingfisher Postmaster Chris Coburn reminds residents of ways they can help ensure safe delivery of their mail and protect postal employees.

“Letter carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as nonaggressive,” Coburn said.

“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 the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day and securing a dog before the carrier approaches the property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions, he added.

Measures residents can take when a mail carrier comes to a home includes: Keeping 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.

Coburn said letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present and are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and respect a dog’s territory.

Additionally letter 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; and 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 use dog repellent if necessary.

“Even though a customer’s dog is friendly to most people, it can always have a bad day,” said letter carrier Tara Snyder.

“I know from experience even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier.”

Letter carriers also have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes, Coburn said.

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.

Additionally, when a carrier feels unsafe, mail service can be stopped, Coburn said.

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, he added.

If a carrier feels a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver the mail and there is no way to inform residents their mail service has been suspended, the residents would have to contact the supervisor at their local post office for more information, Coburn said.

The residents would also have to pick up their mail at the post office until it is safe to resume delivery.

If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a post office box to receive mail, Coburn added.