Welcome to the Week’s Review of Canine Social Media
- Welcome to this Special Feature on the DoggieU K9 Blog for an update on this week’s dog-related media and social media from around the world. There are so many stories. Here we will share some of the best stories this week.
Enjoy & share them.
National Dog Bite Awareness Week
More than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering the mail last year. Aggressive dog behavior is a common safety concern USPS employees face. To keep its workers safe, the organization is providing important information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery as part of its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign.
This year’s theme is “Even good dogs have bad days.” Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.
Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.
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; or
- On a leash.
Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.
Being Attentive While Delivering
Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory.
Letter carriers are trained to:
- Not startle a dog;
- Keep their eyes on any dog;
- Never assume a dog will not bite;
- Make some noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard;
- Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and
- Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.
If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog — such as a mail satchel — and to use dog repellent, if necessary.
Even though postal officials ask customers to control their dogs, bites still happen and may result in injuries to carriers and costly medical expenses for dog owners. Please heed the above best practices to help stop dog bites and protect your mail carrier.
USPS Top 10 Dog Bite States. [Link to Top 20 Ranking of Dog Bite Cities]
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The Los Angeles County Bar Association’s (LACBA) Board of Trustees has approved the creation of an Animal Law Section for members.
“Few lawyers work full time in this practice area, but animals’ interests are increasingly being recognized within legal frameworks,” explains Brad Pauley, an appellate lawyer at Horvitz & Levy 
and LACBA Immediate Past President. Pauley points to several legislative examples, including California’s recent “Dog and Cat Bill of Rights,” which would have provided canines and felines freedom from neglect and abuse as well as the right to healthcare, nutritious food, and appropriate exercise.
In a 2022 poll, 60% of LACBA members showed interest in an Animal Law section.
Growing and complex, “animal law” may involve First Amendment and the rights of Free Speech, anti-SLAPP, so-called Ag-Gag Laws, the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, the legal status of animals, the intersection of law and ethics, and the varying degrees of limited protections that the law accords to animals.
The new Animal Law Section is chaired by Terri Macellaro, an attorney and leading animal welfare advocate in Los Angeles.
Some wonderful dog situations from Social Media
Click to enlarge pics and for slide show view
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