USPS Bites Back – Dog Attack Crisis!

USPS launches a yearly battle against rising dog attacks on postal workers, seeking to change how we protect our carriers from man’s best friend gone rogue.

At a Glance

• Los Angeles logged the most dog attacks on USPS carriers in 2024, with 77 incidents.
• Over 6,000 dog attacks on Postal Service workers occurred nationwide last year.
• USPS emphasizes responsible pet ownership to prevent dog attacks.
• Mail service can be suspended if carriers feel threatened by dogs.

USPS Response to Rising Threats

Last year, the U.S. Postal Service grappled with a significant number of dog attacks on its workers, 6,088 incidents. In response, USPS has launched an annual awareness week, taking a proactive stance on increasing safety measures and educating both employees and the general public. The attacks mostly occurred in places like Los Angeles, which led U.S. cities with 77 reports. Such figures highlight a troubling trend that USPS aims to combat with community-wide efforts focusing on education and preventive practices.

Key players in this national campaign aren’t just USPS carriers but also pet owners. Responsible ownership remains at the forefront of USPS’s message, stressing the importance of securely confining pets during mail delivery. The service will exercise the right to suspend mail deliveries if carriers feel at risk, a policy underscoring the severity of ongoing threats.

Strategies for Safer Deliveries

USPS’s services hinge on keeping their workers safe from aggressive encounters. Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, noted, “Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message…is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered.” By highlighting the consequence of unattended dogs, the USPS seeks to ensure community involvement in maintaining postal safety.

Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.” – Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager

The USPS has prioritized training, preparing its employees to handle interactions with animals and to identify potential threats effectively. It’s a dual approach involving direct training and community outreach. Major cities like Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati continue to escalate reports, demanding a refined focus on cohesion between postal service needs and public awareness campaigns running in tandem.

Community Roles in Prevention

Community efforts toward prevention are pivotal. With California leading the state tally at 701 incidents and Texas following with 438, these numbers are cautionary tales urging stronger preventive actions. Theriault exhibits the importance of informed pet handling, asserting, “The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership.” Encouraging awareness and cultivating informed attitudes towards pet management form the bedrock for improved safety.

The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely. All dogs — regardless of breed, size or age — have the potential to bite.” – Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager

Awareness weeks such as these exemplify the gravity of ensuring safety for USPS workers and the broader community. Through deliberate educational efforts and stringent adherence to safety protocols, the hope is to reverse these alarming trends in dog attacks and inspire greater accountability among dog owners nationwide.