Marion Postmaster Lori Kelsey asks for the public’s support during National Dog Bite Prevention Week in keeping dogs restrained year-round for the safety of letter carriers and community members.

One letter carrier from Marion, one from Florence, and two from Peabody were bitten by dogs while delivering mail in the last year, according to Kelsey.

“Summer is almost here and with temperatures rising and children out of school, our carriers see more dogs running loose,” Kelsey said. “We strongly encourage dog owners to restrain their dogs and allow the carriers to deliver mail safely.”

Tips include putting a dog in a separate room with the door closed before opening the front door, and reminding children not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as they may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at the Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained.

“We take the safety of our employees very seriously,” Kelsey said. “We will not wait until a carrier is bitten before taking preventative action.”