The dog-bite reminder that arrived with the mail

USPS put a dog-bite awareness design on machine-cancelled mail between October 1 and November 1. In its October 7 announcement, the Postal Service said employees experienced more than 5,200 dog attacks nationwide in 2025. That is an occupational count for postal employees. It gives households a reason to look closely at the few seconds when a delivery arrives and a front door opens. USPS postmark announcement

Give the delivery a sequence

Start with the barrier farthest from the doorstep. Before opening the door, put the dog behind a closed interior door, in another secure space, or under the control of another adult away from the entrance. Tell children that a delivery is an adult’s job. If a carrier needs a signature, keep the separation in place until the handoff is finished and the front door is shut. A screen door alone is a poor place to test how your dog will react.

Try walking through the routine at a quiet time, while there’s no delivery or visitor to rush you. If putting the dog in another room is hard, make that room part of ordinary life so the first attempt doesn’t happen to the sound of a knock. If the problem is a yard gate or a loose dog reaching the street, secure that route too. The postmark has finished its run. The door routine works on an ordinary Tuesday. USPS dog-bite prevention campaign