U.S. Postal Service workers face many challenges — snow, rain, heat and gloom of night are just the beginning.

Unfortunately, the USPS also is known for dog bites on carriers. And on National Dog Bite Awareness week this week, it’s important to remind residents it is their responsibility to prevent such a hindrance to mail delivery.

Ohio ranked third in the country for postal workers attacked by dogs in 2021. Of the 5,400 incidents nationwide, 359 workers were attacked or bitten by dogs in Ohio last year.

Youngstown this year is listed among the top 25 U.S. cities for dog attacks on postal carriers, based on 2021 reports. Youngstown ranked No. 24 with 16 attacks on carriers last year, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s new rankings of dog attacks.

Seven Ohio cities made the list, and in fact, Cleveland hit No. 1 with 58 attacks. Others included Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Akron.

From nips and bites to vicious attacks, aggressive dog behavior poses a serious threat to postal employees and the public, the postal service says. But responsible dog owners know it is up to them to train or contain when it comes to dogs interacting with others.

Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives each day. Securing the dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any dog-carrier interactions. The postal service advises 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;

• On a leash.

Pet owners also should remind their children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat.

In many cases, these dogs may believe they are doing their jobs by keeping a stranger away from their homes and families. That’s no excuse for letting postal carriers be attacked and / or bitten while they are also trying to do their jobs — for us. Take whatever precautions are necessary to make sure both postal workers AND your dogs are safe.