MELROSE, Florida — A Northeast Florida post office will be renamed after local letter carrier Pamela “Pam” Jane Rock, who died in 2022 after being attacked by dogs while delivering mail.
Rock's vehicle broke down in Interlachen on Aug. 21, 2022, and she was attacked by five dogs until a neighbor shot at the ground to scare the dogs away. She was flown to Shands Hospital The five dogs were euthanized.
President Joe Biden signed into law a bill from U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fl.
“Pam had a servant’s heart, and it was obvious in the way she lived her life. While her time on this Earth was tragically cut short, she served the U.S. Post Service with passion and integrity,” Bean said in a press release. “Designating the Melrose Post Office in her name will honor her legacy in the community she loved. I am very proud to see our bill signed into law officially memorializing Pam’s memory and commitment to Floridians.”
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fl, also introduced the bill on the floor.
“We would like to thank Congressman Bean and Congresswoman Cammack for their tireless efforts in securing the name of this USPS facility for our beloved sister Pam,” the Rock Family said in the release. “Pam was a devoted USPS employee who was sadly taken away from us while working in the line of duty. The naming of this facility honors Pam and her life of service, and is a comfort to all of us.”
According to the US Postal Service, more than 5,400 postal employees were attacked by dogs in the U.S. in 2021. Florida was one of the top 10 states for dog bites, with 201 reported incidents last year, according to USPS.