Mail Carriers face the risks of a nip, bite, or even a vicious attack while delivering mail and packages each day. Aggressive dog behavior poses a serious threat to Postal Service employees. In response, USPS is implementing a Dog Paw program to raise awareness for Letter Carriers and customers on the risk of dog bites throughout their workday.
The program involves using color coded stickers to indicate both the home of a dog as well as the house before a dog’s home, to better prepare the Letter Carrier as they approach the mailbox. An orange sticker tells carriers that there is a dog at this home and the yellow cautions the carrier that there is a dog at the next house.
As customers see these stickers posted on their mailbox, they will also receive a postcard explaining the program. When used in conjunction with other methods, such as local alerts as postal employees approach the house and written notification cards within the mail, this program has been successful in other locations that have seen high dog bite rates.
A report from the U.S. Postal Service, part of its 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, revealed that North Carolina had the eighth-most dog bites on postal service employees in 2023, with 185 — that’s a 27% increase from the previous year.
How can I get the orange paw stickers