Los Angeles led all US cities in 2024 with the number of dog attacks on US postal services airlines, according to figures released Thursday to mark the launch of the agency’s annual USPS National Dog Bit Awareness campaign.
According to the USPS, there were over 6,000 dog attacks on postal workers last year, with Los Angeles recording most of the US cities at 77.
Houston was second at age 65, followed by Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati. San Diego ranked 9th with 35.
California has been hit by the most reported dog attacks in any state, with 701. The next closest state was Texas at 438.
“The best way to keep your dog safe from attacks is to recognize and promote pet ownership liability, such as teaching your dog the rights and commands and not allowing the dog to roam freely.
Dogs can chew, no matter what breed, size, or age,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, in a statement. “Dog bite attacks on mail employees are preventable. The most important message customers should remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness campaign is to protect dogs and keep them away from carriers when mail is being delivered.
USPS officials urged pet owners to ensure their dogs are protected before the mailman approaches them. The agency noted that if the mail carrier feels threatened, the post office to the residence could be suspended and the owner could request that the mail be collected at the post office.
Pet owners were also urged not to accept mail from postal workers in the presence of dogs. Children should not receive mail directly from their carriers as they may view carriers as a threat to their children.
According to the USPS, post offices are trained in how to handle animal interactions and identify potentially dangerous situations.
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