May is National Bite Prevention Month

Why do we have National Bite Prevention Month? To protect meter readers, Post Office employees, the elderly and small children.

If you get a new dog, will you remember to notify the utilities companies? Do you secure your dog on meter reading day (it’s on your gas bill)? Are their vaccinations and inoculations for rabies and parasites up to date? Have you posted a Beware of Dog sign on your fence or house to avoid any surprises? Have you trained your dog properly? If you have a walled and gated house or you are concerned about privacy, have you arranged to move the meter OUTSIDE your yard somewhere? The Gas Co number is (800) 427-2200.

Many dog owners do none of these things, endangering the safety of utilities employees and trying to push the blame off on others. Earlier this month the 4 main utilities in SoCal issued a press release to highlight National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 16 – 22 (here), because “dozens of utility employees in California are moderately to severely injured by dogs each year.” Sometimes injuries are life-threatening or career-ending.

Now this is where it gets a bit weird, judging by the way some dog owners react to this. By signing on to receive a utility they are allowing that provider the right to access the meter, dog or no dog, owners permission or not. The meters belong to the utility providers, not the homeowner.

There was a case in Rancho Santa Margarita in April that generated national coverage. It’s a sad story (here) if you haven’t read it but it’s the comments that are revealing…

Oh, and meter readers’ favorite line to hate? “My dog would never hurt anyone.” They know it isn’t true and so do you.