In 2014 there were 5,700 occurrences of mail carriers being bitten by a dog while they were delivering the mail. In order to reduce those attacks, U.S. postal officials and the Pa. Dog Law Enforcement Office have been collaborating by offering strategies to address this problem as the summer months approach and the incidence of bites escalates.

Warden Ellen Howarth told Bethlehem mail carriers at the Wood Street facility recently that any dog can bite, although male un-neutered dogs tend to be more aggressive. She told carriers that if they are threatened to "stand still and tall like a tree, present your left side, and don't run. Do not try to make friends with the dog."

Howarth also noted a number of tried and true strategies to prevent attacks suggesting that carriers keep a foot or hand against the door when delivering mail, so that the door cannot be forced open by an aggressive dog.

Carriers were also told to use their satchels as a bite target to prevent a dog from biting the carrier. Most already carry pepper spray, which should be used.

"Learn to read dog body behavior," Howarth said.

Carriers have devised a number of 'dog tips of the day' suggesting that you never feed a dog on your route, noting where dogs like to hide, and backing away when a dog begins to bark.

Ernesto Rodriguez, a customer service supervisor in the Bethlehem Post Office, instructed carriers to report instances of aggressive dogs so that notices may be sent to the homeowner.

"Always report dog issues," Rodriguez said, "because we want our carriers to go home in the same condition in which they reported to work."