In a concerning trend, Los Angeles has recently been ranked as the city with the highest number of dog attacks on U.S. Postal Service workers.
With 77 reported incidents last year, this marks the third consecutive year the city has taken the dubious honor of topping the Postal Service’s list of dog bite incidents.
California overall also leads as the state with the most dog attacks on postal employees, recording a staggering 701 incidents in 2024 alone.
This figure represents a 38% increase over Texas, which is in second place with 438 reported attacks.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled these statistics as part of its annual dog bite awareness initiative. This campaign aims to educate dog owners and promote safety measures in an attempt to reduce future attacks.
The data suggests that dog bites are on the rise nationwide, with reported incidents climbing from 5,300 in 2022 to over 6,000 in 2024.
The Postal Service has noted that even dogs without a history of aggression can react unpredictably when encountering mail carriers.
“Dogs may attack not only to defend their territory but also when they feel startled, anxious, or unwell,” the Postal Service warned in a recent news release.
To mitigate these risks, the USPS advises dog owners to secure their pets indoors before a mail carrier arrives.
Additionally, it is recommended that children avoid accepting mail from a postal worker while a dog is present, as the dog may perceive the carrier as a threat.
A helpful resource for pet owners is the USPS’ Informed Delivery alerts, which provide notifications about when their carrier will be visiting.
The impact of dog attacks extends beyond safety concerns for Postal Service workers; it can also lead to significant financial implications for dog owners.
Injuries incurred during attacks can result in thousands of dollars in medical expenses and lost wages.
“Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others. However, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be a threat when we deliver the mail,” said letter carrier Jonah Helfrich.
He recounted a personal experience where he was bitten on the wrist by a dog that charged through a door, necessitating medical treatment.
Service interruptions at specific addresses can also occur due to dangerous dogs, prompting the USPS to suspend deliveries until it is deemed safe for carriers to return.
For instance, in 2020, mail delivery was halted at Mar Vista Gardens in Los Angeles, a complex housing over 1,800 residents, primarily due to issues with an uncontrollable dog.
In cases where unresolved dog issues persist, owners may be required to rent a Post Office box to ensure they receive their mail.
To prepare for potential encounters with aggressive dogs, Postal Service workers undergo safety training designed to minimize risk.
This training includes techniques to alert dogs to their presence with non-threatening sounds, maintaining visual contact with the animal, and standing their ground in the event of an attack.
Despite these precautions, the rising trend of dog attacks on Postal Service employees is alarming.
The U.S. Postal Service continues to stress the importance of safety measures for both dog owners and postal workers to prevent dog-related incidents.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-30/los-angeles-ranks-number-one-in-nation-in-dog-attacks-on-postal-workers
