Delivery drivers have never been in more demand. Until high-profile e-commerce companies figure out ways to use driverless vehicles, countless occupants will still travel throughout neighborhoods across the nation.
However, with deliveries come risks, specifically when encountering dogs. With nearly 70 million homes with dogs, the odds of a canine encounter are more than likely. Simply put, it’s part of the job. Dog lovers that are also transportation professionals will likely enjoy meeting up with neighborhood dogs. They even go so far as to carry treats, a wise decision regardless of the canine’s demeanor.
Risks around every corner
Reality tells a different story. Countless dogs could be more friendly. In reality, they can be aggressive and combative and see delivery drivers as a threat. For any pet, anyone carrying envelopes and packages is a stranger infringing on territory that the dog essentially “owns.”
Barking and snarling won’t cause injuries. Attacks that lead to bites and mauling go beyond ending a career. The level of aggression in some dogs can end lives. Annually, more than 4.5 million people are victims of dog bites nationwide. Of those, 800,000-plus require medical care, accounting for one out of five attacks.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) reported close to 6,000 employees were attacked in 2020. The ongoing problem has resulted in an annual campaign, National Dog Bite Awareness Week, highlighting the dangers mail carriers face when encountering canines.
Negligent homeowners feel the pain, but in their wallets with insurance liability claims at $882 million in 2021. Dog bite victims would likely feel little sympathy for the potential financial setback at their expense.