May 23, 2013
Ottawa (ON) – Following any winter, the warmer spring air encourages many Canadians to enjoy long-awaited outdoor activities. Household pets are outdoors more often too, and this can sometimes lead to unhappy results for Canada Post employees. Last year, close to 600 employees were bitten, chased, lunged at or threatened by dogs and Canada Post would like to remind customers to be responsible dog owners and ensure the safety of delivery personnel.
“Customers often tell us their dog is safe or won’t bite. Unfortunately, it is hard for our employees to accurately predict the behavior of an animal who instinctively tries to protect its property from strangers – which is often how we are perceived,” says Doug Jones, Senior Vice President, Delivery and Customer Experience. “Our employees take no chances when they face a dog on their routes. And we kindly ask our customers to help out by ensuring they avoid any encounters.”
Dog attacks can leave lasting physical and emotional scars, and not just on Canada Post employees. In Ontario alone in 2011-2012, there were over 13,000 emergency room visits related to dog attacks according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Many other bites go unreported.
Here are some tips that might be helpful:
- Keep your pet properly restrained or inside your house during peak delivery times
- Keep your mailbox out of your pet’s reach
- Even if your pet has never bitten, do not assume it will not happen
- Avoid playing aggressive games with your dog
- Actively socialize your dog
- If your dog develops aggressive behaviours, seek professional advice
