Occupational Dog Bite Safety Newsletter | Bulli Ray

Training Employees To Protect Themselves 

From Dog Attacks!                                                                                                                     
July 2015 

 

 
In This Issue
Letter Carriers Bitten 5,767 Times
Man Killed By Pack of Pit Bulls
Dog Attacks School Employee
Like Us On Facebook!
Reduced Pricing for Online ODBS Training!
Bulli Ray Schedule
Breed of the Month
Train the Trainer Courses 2014
Two Shelter Employees Recovering From Dog Attak
2014 Dog Bite Fatalities


LETTER CARRIERS BITTEN BY DOGS 5,767 TIMES LAST YEAR

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" can stop the United States Postal Service's 617,000 postal workers from delivering over 155 billion pieces of mail per year. But there's one thing that can stop a mail carrier in their tracks - a snarling, territorial dog. Now, new statistics show that last year, letter carriers were bitten by dogs 5,767 times.

The statistics were released as part of an annual dog attack report prepared by the USPS. The number is up slightly from last year, when 5,581 bites were recorded. Though they're only a fraction of the roughly 4.4 million dog bites that occur in the United States each year, they're a real problem for postal workers whose jobs involve bringing mail to homes that can host aggressive dogs.

Los Angeles had the most dog-on-mail-carrier incidents in 2014 (74 attacks), followed by Houston (62), San Diego (47) and Chicago (45). USPS Service Manager of Safety Linda DeCarlo notes that though owners often refuse to believe their dogs will bite, many do. She also says that all attacks are preventable. DeCarlo recommends that owners make sure their dogs are in a separate room or space from where packages are delivered, and to secure dogs when they see a mail carrier approaching. She also says that people should avoid taking letters and packages directly from mail carriers, as dogs might misunderstand the action as threatening. Letter carriers who feel threatened are encouraged to leave mail at a local post office branch instead.
Man, 36, killed by pack of pit bulls. Owner charged with Felony Manslaughter.

De'Trick Johnson, 36-years old, was killed by a pack of pit bulls belonging to John Chester Smith, the owner of C.J.'s Garage. 

Johnson had driven to the business to have his car serviced. When he exited his vehicle, seven pit bulls tore through the bottom of the garage's front gate and savagely attacked him. It is unknown how long Johnson was being mauled before the first 911 call came in, which lasted from 5 to 8 minutes, according to different media reports. He was pronounced dead on scene; the initial cause of death was listed as "massive trauma." Johnson's life partner, John Smith III, is the son of the dogs' owner. Smith said there were multiple victims of these dogs before Johnson's death. Family members had warned his father to "get rid of those dogs," Smith said. Eight months earlier, the pit bulls had escaped the property in the same way and attacked man who fled by climbing up a tree. 

On April 22, authorities charged John Chester Smith with felony manslaughter in connection to Johnson's death.

Bulli Ray News

 

Dog Attacks Millard School Employee, Owners Kept Dog Illegally
By: Joe Chiodo 

Monday,  WOWT 6 News obtained security video of a dog attack at Millard Central Middle School. The Nebraska Humane Society said the dog shown in the video has a violent past, and officials were not aware the dog was in Omaha, let alone on school grounds. The dog had been officially labeled as a potentially dangerous animal due to previous violent episodes.

In the video, recorded April 2, a school counselor/teacher approaches a door inside a vestibule. He opens the door in an attempt to "shoo" the dog, named Sam, away. At that moment, the dog attacks the school employee. The employee quickly makes his way back inside. School officials said students were outside playing at the time of the attack.

The employee told the Nebraska Humane Society the dog's bite didn't catch his leg, just his clothing. But, what the Humane Society said is most concerning, is the fact that this attack should have never happened.

"This owner, for almost a year and a half period, did not follow city ordinances required of him in regards to making sure this dog didn't attack somebody," Mark Langan, VP of NHS Field Operations, told WOWT 6 News.



  

                                                Quick Links... 
In the News Page (read more dog bite stories) 

Have questions? 

Contact Bulli Ray. We can help you with your Dog Bite prevention program! 
________________
Mitzi Robinson
President - Founder                               Brochure
mrobinson@bulliray.com
________________
Cynthia Ballenger 
Operations Manager 
cballenger@bulliray.com 
888-777-3647  

www.bulliray.com
Bulli Ray's Schedule 2015
See us scheduled in your area?   

Contact us today to be included!      

  • June 16 Claims & Leadership Conf. Bonita Springs,FL
  • June 25 Gainesville Regional Utilities, FL
  • June 26 Piedmont Natural Gas Charlotte, NC 
  • June 30 Atmos Energy Dallas TX  
  • August 4, 5 American Water, Charleston, WV
  • August 7 Orange & Rockland Utilities Pearl River, NY  
  • August 17 Citrus County,FL  
  • August 25 Federal Probation Conf, Scottsdale, AZ
  • August 26 & 27 Salt River Project, Phenix AZ
  • September 23 FNGA Safety Conf. Champion Gate, FL
  • October 12,13, 14 FL State PRIMA Conf. Orlando, FL
  • November 11 Mid South Synergy Navasota, TX
  • November 12 DiVal Safety Conferance Houston, TX 
  • December 1, 2 & 3 ODBS Train the Trainer Tampa, FL

 

Breed of the Month: Boerboel 
The Boerboel, also known as the South African Mastiff , is a large Molosser-type breed from South Africa, bred for the purpose of guarding the homestead. These dogs were bred as working farm dogs.

History.
 The word "Boerboel" derives from "boer", the Afrikaans/Dutch word for "farmer". The English word "bull" sounds to Dutch ears like "boel", hence, the name Boerboel. Boerboel, therefore, translates as either "farmer's (bull) dog" or "Boer's (bull) dog" and should be pronounced somewhat like "burbull". The Boerboel is the only South African dog breed created to defend the homestead.
Despite the Boerboel's long breeding history, there is great uncertainty as to how many and which breeds were used to create it. It is generally believed that the breed was created from interbreeding native African dogs, such as the Africanis, with breeds brought into South Africa by Dutch, French, and British settlers. In 1928, the diamond mining company De Beers imported Bullmastiffs to South Africa to guard the mines. This breed was also crossbred with Boerboels in the region.
Today, Boerboel breeding is both a hobby and an industry in South Africa. These dogs are now exported from South Africa to other parts of the world. The protective character of the Boerboel is still evident and is much sought after, as is the calm, stable, and confident composure of the breed. The dogs are obedient and intelligent and have strong territorial instincts. The Boerboel remains the guarding breed of choice among current day farmers and is very popular for the same reason in urban communities.
Boerboels are an intelligent and energetic breed. 
The Boerboel requires training and firm handling from an early age.

Colors and Coats:

Its coat is short, dense, smooth, soft, and shiny. Their coat color can be various shades of red, brown, or fawn. Many dogs have a black mask around their mouth that sometimes extends to their eyes and ears. 

  

Life span: 
10 years 
Weight:
110 to 220 pounds

DEC TTT
Two Southaven Animal Shelter employees recovering from dog attack

POSTED 5:00 PM, JUNE 23, 2015, BY CAITLIN ALEXANDER

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - A Southaven Animal Shelter employee and animal control officer are recovering from dog bite wounds Tuesday.
Southaven Animal Shelter Director Perry Mason confirmed the dog attack happened Saturday, and one of the workers has remained in the hospital.
Mason said the shelter employee opened up a pit bull's kennel to clean it and feed him. "He grabbed her leg and just would not let go," Mason said.
An officer who was working ran to help.
He pulled the dog off the employee's leg, but not before the dog bit him too on the left forearm. 
Mason said the dog's aggressive behavior came out of nowhere.
"He's been neutered. We have all taken him for walks. He has sat in the office. We have done everything humanly possible to predict his behavior," Mason said.
The employee who the dog bit in the leg has undergone a couple surgeries. She was still in the hospital at the time WREG interviewed Mason Tuesday.
To those who wonder if this was an issue of improper training, Mason said both employees have vicious dog training certificates.
Staff did not expect this kind of behavior from the pit bull. They told WREG he is an approximately two-year-old stray dog and has been at the shelter for more than two months. Staff originally picked up the dog on Church Road

Read Full Article
ANY DOG CAN BITE! SOME JUST DON'T STOP

42 
- dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2014 -
Up by ten from 2013 
From 2005 to 2014, 
326 Americans suffered death due to dog bite injury. 

2014 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities
In 2014, 42 dog attacks resulted in death: 19 child victims, 1 young teen victim and 22 adults.
2013 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities
In 2013, 32 dog attacks resulted in death: 18 child victims and 14 adult victims.
2012 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities
In 2012, 38 dog attacks resulted in death: 19 child victims and 19 adult victims.
2011 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities
In 2011, 31 dog attacks resulted in death: 13 child victims and 18 adult victims.
2010 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities
In 2010, 33 dog attacks resulted in death: 20 child victims and 13 adult victims.

Let Bulli Ray help train you and your employees on how to be safe around dogs. Contact us today!
Join Our Mailing List