The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently released yearly numbers regarding dog attacks on postal workers as part of their 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign. In 2023, there were over 5,800 cases of dog attacks on postal workers, up from 5,300 in 2022. California saw the most attacks with 727 incidents, followed by Texas with 411 and Ohio with 359. The top 10 cities where the most attacks occurred included Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and St. Louis.
The USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign began on June 2 and runs through June 9, with the theme “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.” The campaign aims to promote responsible pet ownership and raise awareness of the risks posed to mail carriers by aggressive dogs. The organization emphasizes the importance of keeping dogs under control during mail delivery times to prevent attacks and injuries to postal workers.
To ensure the safety of mail carriers, USPS provided measures for dog owners to follow, including keeping dogs inside, contained within a fence, or on a leash during mail delivery times. Mail recipients can also use Informed Delivery, a free service offered by USPS, to track when their mail and packages are expected to arrive. In case of a dog bite incident, the Insurance Institute shared that the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555.
In response to the increase in dog attacks on postal workers, Congress has addressed the issue through new legislation targeting safety. The USPS is committed to promoting dog bite awareness and encouraging responsible pet ownership to protect both customers, their dogs, and letter carriers while delivering the mail. The organization emphasizes the potential hazards faced by letter carriers during their daily routes, with canine encounters posing a significant risk of injury.
The top 10 cities with the highest number of dog attacks on postal workers include Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, San Diego, Dallas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio. The USPS has highlighted the importance of preventing dog attacks on mail carriers to ensure their safety while performing their duties. By raising awareness and promoting responsible pet ownership, the organization aims to reduce the number of dog bites and injuries suffered by postal workers during their deliveries.
