Dog bite prevention week should be yearlong, experts say Prevention week brings to light serious issues By Monique Balas News-Chronicle In some cases, a dog's bite can be worse than its bark. Although canine attacks have made national headlines with disturbing regularity, utility and postal workers take the risks in stride. National Dog Bite Prevention Week, held annually the third week of May, is an effort by the American Veterinary Medical Association to educate the public on the dangers of dog bites. "My theory's always been, even a good dog can have a bad day," said postal worker Thomas "Scotty" Scott, who said he "delivers the Packers" on the West Side of Green Bay. Scott has been bitten three times in the 30 years he has been delivering mail. The first time was the worst, when he was starting a new mail route in Milwaukee. "It felt like somebody took a clamp and clamped my calf," said Scott, vice president of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 16. The attack, which punctured his leg muscle, kept Scott off work for a week and destroyed his first-class, $80 postal worker pants. The United States Postal Service has specific training and guidelines to follow regarding dogs, said Terri Michlig, customer relations coordinator for Green Bay branches. "If there's an unrestrained animal, our carriers are not to go and deliver mail," Michlig said. "If they're threatened in any way, they do not go into the yard." Scott estimated about 12 carriers are bitten annually in Green Bay. Nationally, about 4.7 million people are bitten each year, but he said a more accurate number might be three or four times that amount. Wisconsin Public Service, whose meter readers frequently encounter dogs, does not have a formal policy on dogs. "We never get mad at a meter reader if they don't go into a yard with a dog," said WPS spokesman Kerry Spees. "If they encounter one on the way, they'll try to ascertain of the dog is a threat to them or not." Last year, Brown County saw 209 reported cases of dog bites, said John Paul, environmental manager of the Brown County Health Department. He projected between 215 and 220 people will be bit this year. "If attack does occur, most certainly notify law enforcement people," Paul said. "If it's severe, get appropriate health care." Victims should fill out a bite report and bring the animal to a state-certified veterinarian within 24 hours. "That animal needs to be checked for rabies three times during a 10-day quarantine," Paul said. If the animal can't be found, the victim should call the health department, who will in turn make a public service announcement to identify the dog, Paul said.