According to Jeanne Blanchard, security safety coordinator for the Sunnyvale post office, the carrier had just delivered mail to a home when the dog, tied up in the front yard, began to bark and jump up and down. The dog broke free of its chains and leapt at the carrier, who had turned after hearing the barking. As he had been trained to do, the carrier attempted to shield himself with his satchel, but the dog knocked him down and bit the carrier's lower lip. The carrier pushed the animal away, but then the dog bit his forearm and lower calf before the owner could pull the animal off.

Paramedics took the carrier to the emergency room, where he was treated and released. Animal control deemed the dog vicious and immediately impounded

the animal. The dog has since been put down.

The carrier, who is recovering from an infection due to the bites, is expected to be out for about a month. His route covers Borregas, Maude, Fair Oaks and Ahwhanee avenues.

Nationally, U.S. Postal Service employees suffered 3,423 dog bites and attacks last year. Dog owners are encouraged to keep pets indoors or in the backyard when a mail carrier approaches. Simply tying up a vicious animal isn't always enough to prevent an attack, Blanchard says.

"Vicious dogs shouldn't be kept in front yards. They can get loose and attack carriers," said Blanchard. "We want to make it safe for our carriers to deliver mail."

So far this year, the Sunnyvale post office has had three dog attacks resulting in injuries, with two involving bites. Last year, Sunnyvale carriers suffered three dog bites.