Each year the United States Postal Service brings attention to one of the most common public health problems in the nation: dog bites.

Sedro-Woolley Postmaster Diana Ehlers said that the National Dog Bite Awareness Week promotes awareness of dog bites when the mail carriers arrive.

More than 500,000 people are admitted to emergency departments annually with dog-bite related injuries, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“It’s been a big problem for this post office,” Ehlers said. “This past year we have only had two dog bites but typically we have anywhere from three to seven.”

If a dog attacks a carrier, the Sedro-Woolley post office policy states there will no longer mail service at the residence and owners may be held liable for medical expenses.

“Dog bites can affect mail delivery for the entire neighborhood,” Ehlers said.

Local post offices have been aggressively enforcing the policies for dog bites and making carriers aware.

The USPS offers tips about how to be a responsible dog owner and how to avoid being bitten.

The postal service is not anti-dog, but pro-responsibility, Ehlers said. Responsible pet ownership includes making sure your pet is properly restrained, obedience trained and spayed or neutered.

During the week, the Postal Service’s campaign will provide safety tips and stress the need for responsible pet owners to prevent harmful attacks.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, children, the elderly and letter carriers are the most common victims of dog bites.

The Skagit Valley Animal Control Office has reported a total of 11 dog bites and approximately 50 aggressive dog complaints since Jan. 1.

Skagit County does not have specific dog leash laws. The leash laws are left to the discretion of cities and towns within the county. However, Skagit County does have aggressive and dangerous dog ordinances.

The Skagit County ordinance defines dogs as dangerous and potentially dangerous.

Both classifications need to be registered with the Sheriff’s office and can result in fines if the owner fails to register or renew the animal’s registration.

The law defines potentially dangerous as dogs that inflict bites on humans or domestic animals without provocation, chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion, chasing or harassing while off the owner’s property and threatening behavior to humans or animals.

Dogs are declared dangerous if they have inflicted severe damage or injury without provocation to include multiple wounds or surgeries, killed a domestic animal or human, aggressively bitten or attacked humans or other animals and has been previously found to be potentially dangerous.

“A lot of people call about pit bulls and immediately think it’s aggressive,” said Emily Diaz, Skagit County Animal Control Officer.

Diaz advised that pit bulls are not the only aggressive dogs out there and that labs, retrievers and terriers are just as dangerous.

“Pit bulls are aggressive with other animals because they have a natural prey drive. They’re very rarely aggressive to people and nine times out of 10, they are sweethearts,” Diaz said.

Penalties for attacks made by a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog can result in fines up to $10,000, felony charges and quarantine of the aggressive animal.

After the uncorrected aggressive behavior, the dog must be registered.

The cost to register a dangerous animal is $100 for the first year and $50 for each following year. Failure to register or re-register will result in citations.

“A lot of dog attacks happen because of un-neutered male dogs. They’re going to have territory issues,” Diaz said. “A lot of these incidents would be prevented if dog owners would take responsiblitly.”

National Dog Bite Awareness week runs May 18 through May 27. To find out more information or for tips about how to be a responsible dog owner, inquire at your local post office.