Dog bites are a hazard to children, teens and adults. Even normally even-tempered family pets could become aggressive and bite under the right circumstances, so it’s important to go over some safety tips that can help prevent bites from happening.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has said that around 40% of households in the United States have at least a single dog. It’s more common to see dogs as pets in rural and suburban areas, but many people in cities have dogs as well.
Workers who are going to be in those neighborhoods should know the likelihood of coming into contact with dogs as well as the risk of being bitten.
HOW COMMON IS IT TO BE AROUND DOGS WHILE WORKING?
On a single 500-house route, delivery people or other workers may come across an average of 300 dogs. It’s believed that the majority will show some signs of aggression, which may be caused by unfamiliarity or other issues.
Letter carriers and postal workers are among the most at-risk. On average, around 10 of them are bitten or suffer other dog-related injuries each day. They’re not the only ones, though, and meter readers, cable installers and others may also be bitten.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU’RE HURT BY A DOG?
Whether you’re bitten, scratched or knocked down by a dog, if you’re hurt, then you need to make sure the owner knows. In the case of an injury, it’s the owner’s responsibility to take care of any costs associated with that injury because they are liable for any damages their pet causes.