Weird Dog Postcard is Turning Up in Hudson Valley Mail Boxes

I got the strangest piece of mail today, and I thought I had to share in case your postal person didn't leave this crazy postcard in your mailbox.

Postal Service Disclosed Uptick in Dog Bites

When I first turned the postcard over, I saw the sweetest dog face, which suddenly turned into a savage dog showing all its teeth. It was a hologram postcard that was trying to convey a message, which it did.

Why Hudson Valley Post Offices Are Sending Holograph Cards

I flipped the card back over to realize it was from my local post office, and that is when the light bulb finally went on. I realized that this postcard was a public service announcement from the post office regarding aggressive pets that go after the person delivering the mail.

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Obviously, they had to see a dog because most people who deliver the mail rarely get bitten by a person's cat, but I am sure it has happened. So, what is the post office up to with this campaign? Simply create more awareness about aggressive pets and mail delivery.

I asked online the number of postal workers who are bitten by a pet each year, and an article from the U.S. Postal Service, which was done in May 2024, says that the number of postal workers bitten by a pet rose to 5,800 cases in 2023.

The article goes on to offer this advice:

When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep dogs:

• Inside the house or behind a fence;
• Away from the door or in another room; or
• On a leash.

(Information via the U.S. Postal Service)

The postcard I received suggested the same three items, with one additional item that I thought was very insightful. They suggest you don't allow the mail person to hand the mail to your child in the presence of your pet because that could be interpreted as a threat.

All good advice, so in honor of National Dog Bite Awareness Week, June 2nd through the 9th, let's keep these tips in mind.