Dog Bites Down in Tennessee
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JACKSON, Tenn.-The number of people bitten by dogs is down in Tennessee. State Farm Insurance released the numbers as part of the Dog Bite Prevention Week. Mail carriers deal with dogs daily. “If you’re not watching they will have, you will be bitten before you know it,” said Annette Johnson, a carrier. Sheri Needham showed WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News her scars. She said she has been bitten five times. “He came up underneath the car and bit me from behind, so I didn’t see him coming at all,” said Needham. In 2012, the United States Postal Service said about 5,900 carriers across the country suffered dog bites. “If you see any signs of aggressiveness we have to get back in the truck and not deliver the mail that day,” said Johnson. The Jackson-Madison County Health Department reported 58 dog bites since July 2012. State Farm said in Tennessee dog bites dropped from 78 in 2011 to 66 in 2012. “We answer vicious dog calls, fairly common,” said Lt. Rick Holt, with the Jackson Police Department. Jackson police can use pepper spray, a taser, and their gun to fight off dogs. “If an officer is attacked by a dog he’s allowed to use whatever force necessary to keep from getting injured,” said Lt. Holt. Carriers can use mail bags and dog spray to fight off animals. “Every customer tells us they don’t bite,” said Johnson. “They don’t bite their owner, but they will be territorial to others.” The postal service can temporarily stop your mail if a carrier is attacked.
