Los Angeles leads nation in dog attacks on postal workers
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LOS ANGELES (KTLA) With dog attacks on postal workers climbing to more than 6,000 cases in the past year, the U.S. Postal Service is launching its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign beginning June 1.

According to USPS data, Los Angeles recorded 77 dog attacks on postal workers in 2024, the highest number of any city in the country.

Houston followed with 65 incidents, and Chicago ranked third with 57.

Rank City, State Number of Attacks
1 Los Angeles, California 77
2 Houston, Texas 65
3 Chicago, Illinois 57
4 St. Louis, Missouri 47
5 Cincinnati, Ohio 44
6 Dallas, Texas 43
7 Kansas City, Missouri 40
7 Cleveland, Ohio 40
8 San Diego, California 35
9 Denver, Colorado 34
10 San Antonio, Texas 32
10 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 32
10 Detroit, Michigan 32
10 Columbus, Ohio 32
11 Minneapolis, Minnesota 30
12 Indianapolis, Indiana 26
13 Phoenix, Arizona 25
13 Memphis, Tennessee 25
14 Omaha, Nebraska 24
14 Louisville, Kentucky 24
15 Rochester, New York 23
16 Toledo, Ohio 21
16 Sacramento, California 21
16 El Paso, Texas 21
17 San Francisco, California 20
17 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 20
17 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 20
17 Albuquerque, New Mexico 20
18 Stockton, California 18
18 Oakland, California 18
19 Youngstown, Ohio 17
19 Salt Lake City, Utah 17
19 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 17
19 Miami, Florida 17
19 Des Moines, Iowa 17
20 St. Petersburg, Florida 15
20 Fort Worth, Texas 15
20 Birmingham, Alabama 15
Source: U.S Postal Service

Nationwide, California led all states with 701 dog bite incidents. Texas ranked second, while Ohio came in third.

2024 Dog Bite/Dog Incident Data
  STATE Number of dog bites Top 10 States
1 California 701 1
2 Texas 438 2
3 Ohio 350 3
4 Illinois 344 4
5 New York 322 5
6 Pennsylvania 316 6
7 Michigan 231 7
8 Florida 210 8
9 Missouri 207 9
10 North Carolina 169 10
Source: U.S Postal Service

This year’s campaign, themed “Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track,” urges pet owners to take responsibility for keeping dogs properly restrained during mail delivery.

The initiative runs throughout June and uses the hashtag #dogbiteawareness to spread awareness across social media.

“The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership,” Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in a statement. “All dogs regardless of breed, size, or age have the potential to bite.”

The USPS emphasizes that many attacks occur unexpectedly, even from dogs that have no history of aggression. Mail carriers are trained to stay vigilant in neighborhoods where dogs are present and to follow safety protocols, such as never startling a dog and using items like mail satchels to create a barrier if threatened.

The Postal Service advises customers to secure their dogs in a separate room or area away from the door during mail delivery. Pet owners should also avoid opening the door while the carrier is present and ensure children do not retrieve mail in the presence of a pet.

In addition to physical harm, dog attacks on USPS workers can lead to costly repercussions for dog owners, including medical expenses, lost wages, and uniform replacement costs.

If a mail carrier feels unsafe, mail delivery to the residence can be suspended until the dog is properly secured. Residents would then need to retrieve their mail from their local Post Office. In some cases, the USPS may require pet owners to rent a P.O. box to resume service.

As part of its annual campaign, the USPS urges pet owners to take preventive action.

“The most important message for our customers to remember is to keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered,” Theriault said. “Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.”

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