Train hits pedestrian
Dog rescued from pipe
Photos of the Weird
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Google
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Y! MyWebMail carriers speak out about prevalence of dog attacks
Friday, August 01, 2008
Letter carriers hold signs Thursday, July 31, in front of the Springfield Post Office publicizing dog bites they received on their walking routes in order to raise awareness about the hazards of dog attacks and the importance of being a responsible pet owners. SPRINGFIELD — Almost four years later, Springfield mail carrier Paul Hodson remembers the day he was mauled by a 150-pound Rottweiler vividly.
"I'll never forget it," he said. "I can still feel the dog bite, the smell of his breath."
Hodson and other mail carriers held signs and passed out fliers for Dog Bite Awareness Day on Thursday, July 31, in front of the Springfield Post Office, 150 N. Limestone St.
The dog grabbed the webbing between Hodson's thumb and forefinger before biting into his right leg, he said.
Hodson spent three months in the hospital to recover from nerve damage, more than 100 stitches and an infection from the bite, he said.
A Springfield Post Office safety committee organized the day to promote responsible pet ownership and the dangers of dog bites, Postmaster Sue Vanzant said.
"People say their dog won't bite, but if a dog has teeth, it will bite," Vanzant said.
Dog bites were the No. 1 cause of mail carrier injuries this year, she said, and 21 carriers have been bitten in the past four years.
June has the highest number of bites because children want to be outside with the dogs, Vanzant said, and tend to be careless about restraining them.
Owners should be in tune with their animal's behavior to prevent attacks, said Ed Sisler, executive director of the Clark County Humane Society.
Large, aggressive dogs have become a status symbol in Springfield, Sisler said, but can be dangerous if not well-trained and watched.
One or two people in Clark County lose their home each year after being sued for dog bites, he said.
Mail service will be shut off to houses with vicious dogs after several warnings, Vanzant said.
Amanda Cooper, who delivers mail on North Bechtle Avenue, was bitten by a dog before her planned vacation around Memorial Day.
"It's shocking," she said. "It happened so fast."
Owners should know the dangers of dog bites to mail carriers, Cooper said.
"Every day is Dog Bite Awareness Day," Hodson said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0283 or jbalmert@coxohio.com.
