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3d ago

USPS Logs Over 6,000 Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers, Prepares 2025 Bite Awareness Campaign

California led all states with 701 incidents, underscoring the need for targeted outreach in high-risk areas.

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Beware of Dog Sign on Fence
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FILE – U.S. Postal Service trucks park outside a post office, Jan. 29, 2024, in Wheeling, Ill. The USPS signaled plans Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for a rate increase that includes hiking the cost of a first-class stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents, (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Overview

  • USPS recorded more than 6,000 dog attacks on mail carriers in 2024, a rise from 5,300 incidents in 2022.
  • Los Angeles topped all cities with 77 bite incidents, followed by Houston (65), Chicago (57), St. Louis (47) and Cincinnati (44).
  • Texas ranked second among states with 438 attacks, with Ohio third at 350 and Illinois fourth at 344.
  • Mail carriers receive training to manage animal encounters but the USPS warns that even unaggressive dogs can bite when startled.
  • The June campaign will offer dog owners safety tips and warns that service may be suspended and owners held liable for medical and wage costs after an attack.