ELYRIA — Postal carriers are dog lovers, too.

Yet, most know that dog bites or the possibility of a dog attack are part of their job. Still, the Elyria Post Office is publicly asking residents to help them lessen such incidents by being responsible dog owners.

An increase in the number of dog incidents in Lorain and Elyria over the past three years has prompted carriers to become more aggressive about getting their message out. To date, 19 carriers have been bitten or injured while fleeing an aggressive dog during that time period.

“Carriers out on the street are in an environment where dogs can be a serious threat,” said Victor Dubina, U.S. Postal Service spokesman. “From the biggest dog to the smallest, dogs are territorial and want to protect their turf.”

It just so happens that turf is also the front porches, driveways and walkways postal carriers must use to deliver mail six days a week, putting them right in the path of dogs every working day. “When a dog comes at you, you are at their mercy and have to hope you can fall back on your training to get away, but that is not always the case,” said Melody Blanco, supervisor and facility safety coordinator at the Elyria Post Office.

Postal carrier Shelley Theman, 34, said she is an avid dog lover who never thought she would get bit. But several weeks ago while on her normal route on the west side of Elyria, Theman was attacked by a dog.

As she recalls, it happened on May 29. Theman said she was walking into a yard, but didn’t know there was a dog present. She was sifting through mail when she noticed a German shepard coming toward her.

“It happened very quickly and all I had time to do was put the bag in front of me,” she said.

The dog moved the bag and bit her on her leg.

The incident has left her a little afraid of some dogs now, but she knows she cannot just spray every dog she comes into contact with on her route.

“I just thought I was immune to it. I know different now,” she said. “I still love dogs. I just wish people were more aware that it’s not just us. It could be a UPS deliveryman, a child or anyone walking in the neighborhood.”

Theman’s injury put her out of work for several days, Blanco said.

It also put a damper on her vacation plans to Hawaii, Theman added.

Not surprisingly, Blanco said the postal service takes dog incidents very seriously. Mail can be temporarily stopped if a postal carrier is attacked and dog owners are required to sign a form stating they will keep their dogs tied up when a carrier is expected. If repeated attacks occur, mail can be stopped permanently and customers can be made to get a post office box.

Dubina said in the rare event that a dog is left to roam a neighborhood, postal carriers can and will stop mail deliver to entire streets.

“Our goal is to protect employees because that is their work environment,” he said.

Acting Elyria Postmaster Jerry Remo said he often hears from dog owners that their particular dog is gentle or would never attack. However, experience tells him something different, he said. “I tell them that if a dog eats or has teeth, it can bite,” he said.

With 48 routes in Elyria and just as many carriers, Blanco said almost weekly carriers are telling her of a problem dog on the route. Ten years ago, she, too, was bitten by a dog and to this day has the scar to prove it. Naturally, she would like to see owners do something to make sure it doesn’t happen to another carrier.

Tips for dog owners

• ◾Keep dogs leashed, confined or chained away from mailboxes when carriers are in the area.
• ◾Keep doors locked or closed when carriers are expected.
• ◾Tell children or guests to keep dog safely secured during mail delivery times.
• ◾Look into obedience training for your dog.
• ◾Don’t let children take mail from letter carriers when dogs are present.
• ◾Spay or neuter dogs to help with temperament.
• ◾Socialize dogs around people.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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