Orange County Carriers Bitten by 94 Dogs

ANAHEIM HILLS, May 25, 2006 -- Orange County ranks second in the nation for the number of mail carriers bitten by dogs, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

Ninety-four carriers were attacked in the Southern California county of nearly 3 million residents last year, second only to Houston, where 108 carriers were bitten. Indianapolis was third with 83 bites.

"We're not anti-dog, but pro-responsibility," said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher, whose agency released the statistics during National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

Klaudia Estrada, a 14-year veteran of the postal service, has been bitten twice.

Her injuries were minor but others haven't been as lucky. A Santa Ana letter carrier is still healing nearly a year after he was mauled by a pit bull and Rottweiler. The carrier was one of 15 postal employees attacked in that city last year.

"All we're asking for is safety," said Estrada, who delivers mail on foot in Anaheim Hills. "The biggest mistake I see is people keeping their gates unlocked."

If a local carrier sees a loose dog, it is standard policy to leave the neighborhood and curtail delivery that day. Animal control officials are also contacted whenever a carrier is confronted by an aggressive dog.

Estrada said dog owners often ignore her requests to restrain their animals. "The owner usually will say, 'Oh, he doesn't bite,'" she said. "It's sad, but then the dog owner usually gives me an attitude."

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