Dogs Attacking Mail Carriers Linked to Warm Weather

Dog owners who allow their pets to roam free when the weather's warmer have caused major problems for some mail carriers.

In Northern Virginia, three letter carriers were injured by dog bites in the last two weeks, said Patrick Murphy, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.

In the Dale City-Woodbridge area, a dog jumped a fence and attacked a postal worker. That person remains out of work after undergoing two surgeries related to the attack, Murphy said.

Two dogs in Alexandria charged through an open gate and bit a postal worker 11 times.

And in a separate Alexandria incident, a dog lunged through a screen door and bit a carrier, Murphy said.

Seven cases of dogs biting postal workers were reported this year. Forty-nine cases were reported since March 2011, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

Arlington has had the most reported incidents of dogs attacking mail carriers. There were eight attacks in that area in the last 12 months.

“We need help from our customers to keep our carriers safe,” U.S. Postal Service District Manager Michael Furey said. “We work hard to make the work place safe for employees. When our carriers are on the street, their work place is the homes and businesses of the customers we serve."

The following areas of Northern Virginia had the most reported attacks:

• 8—Arlington
• 7—Alexandria
• 6—Falls Church
• 5—Woodbridge  
• 3—Winchester
• 3—Vienna
• 3—Fairfax  
• 2—Herndon
• 2—Manassas
• 1—Springfield West
• 1—Ashburn
• 1—Leesburg
• 1—Annandale
• 1—Tom's Brook
• 1—Sterling
• 1—Lorton
• 1—Purcellville
• 1—Marshall
• 1—McLean