U.S. Postal Service Unveils National Dog Bite Rankings Ahead of Awareness Week

During National Dog Bite Awareness Week, USPS encourages responsible pet ownership to reduce dog bites and protect postal employees.

As part of its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has released national rankings on dog bites. Last year, over 5,300 Postal Service employees suffered from dog attacks while delivering the mail, highlighting a key safety concern that USPS employees often confront.

Even Good Dogs Have Bad Days

The campaign, which runs from Sunday, June 4, through Saturday, June 10, is themed "Even good dogs have bad days." USPS encourages public involvement in the campaign through the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.

“When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable and attack,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager.

The USPS emphasizes the importance of keeping dogs secure and out of the way before the carrier arrives to ensure the safe delivery of mail.

Mail Delivery Safety

Postal carriers understand that all dogs, even those perceived as nonaggressive, can bite. As dogs are protective of their turf, owners have a significant responsibility to control their pets to guarantee safe mail delivery.

The USPS also recommends keeping dogs away from the door or in a different room when a letter carrier comes to the home. Additionally, it advises owners to remind children not to take mail directly from carriers as dogs may view them as a threat to the child.

Informed Delivery

Through the free USPS Informed Delivery service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages, helping them anticipate when their carrier will arrive. Over 52 million customers have used this service since its launch in 2017.

“When our mail carriers are bitten, it is usually a ‘good dog’ that had not previously behaved in a menacing way,” said USPS Occupational Safety and Health Senior Director Linda DeCarlo.

Dog Attack Rankings

The USPS also disclosed its 2022 dog attack rankings by city. The top five cities were Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Cleveland, and San Diego, respectively. For the specific dog attack data in your city or town, contact your local USPS public relations representative.

Top 10 dog bite states for 2022 include California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Letter Carrier Safety Measures

Carriers are trained to stay alert for potentially dangerous conditions, respect a dog's territory, and utilize tools like dog repellent and mail satchels to protect themselves if a dog attacks.

“Recently, I was delivering to a customer’s mailbox and was nearly bitten by their large aggressive dog,” said Swain Lowe, a letter carrier in Manassas, Virginia.

Dog Alert Features

USPS has implemented features such as a dog alert on carriers' handheld scanners and dog warning cards during mail sorting to alert carriers to potential dog hazards on their routes.

Lastly, if a carrier feels threatened, mail service may be halted, affecting not just the dog owner but the entire neighborhood. This underscores the importance of responsible pet ownership in ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of mail.