Favorite, but loose, mutt could cause mail delay

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[To the Editor:

I am taking this opportunity to elaborate on a serious situation that has become a threat to letter carriers in Harrisburg.

Dogs have caused safety problems for letter carriers for years. Although the Postal Services has reduced the number of dog bite occurrences nationwide to around 2,700 annually by promoting public awareness and providing in-depth training to carriers on how to avoid confrontations with dogs, unrestrained dogs endanger letter carriers every day. Dogs on the loose in Harrisburg are threatening letter carriers and interfering with the delivery of your mail.

This is indeed a very serious situation.

The United States Postal Service has an obligation to provide a safe work environment for all employees. Unrestrained dogs are not acceptable and cannot be tolerated.

To reduce the potential for injury to employees, delivery service may be temporarily withdrawn when animals interfere with our ability to complete mail delivery. Owners must confine their dogs during delivery hours, and are notified promptly if service is suspended. Mail delivery will resume as soon as the Postal Service is confident the animal is no longer a threat. Please contact your postmaster for further information.

Letter carriers take pride in delivering your mail promptly and efficiently. Please, help us with this situation. Keep your dog restrained.

Thank you for your assistance.

Donna Denny

Postmaster