Philadelphia has recently been identified as one of the major cities for dog attacks on United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers, according to data released by the USPS.
In the past year, the USPS reported over 6,000 incidents of dog attacks on its employees across the nation, with Philadelphia accounting for 32 of those attacks and Pennsylvania totaling 316 incidents.
This places Philadelphia as the No. 12 city for dog attacks on USPS mail carriers nationwide, while Pennsylvania ranks as the No. 6 state for these alarming occurrences.
As part of its 2025 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the USPS is urging dog owners to adopt responsible practices to ensure the safety of mail carriers.
Jonah Helfrich, a letter carrier from Montgomery County, shared his personal experience to highlight the seriousness of this issue.
He explained, “Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others, however, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be considered a threat when delivering the mail.
I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment.
I strongly encourage all dog owners to take precautions to make sure their dog is secure when mail is being delivered.”
The theme of this month-long campaign is “Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track.”
This initiative aims to raise awareness among dog owners about the importance of securing their pets during mail delivery times.
The USPS recommends that customers know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives and secure their dogs in a separate room when mail is being delivered.
Additionally, the USPS emphasizes the need to close the door firmly behind you when stepping outside to prevent dogs from escaping unexpectedly.
If a pet owner is outside with their dog while mail delivery is taking place, it is critical to ensure that the dog is leashed and secured away from the mail carrier.
Moreover, it is advised that pet owners do not accept mail directly from carriers while dogs are present to avoid any potential conflicts.
Parents are also encouraged to remind their children not to take mail directly from letter carriers, as dogs may perceive the carrier as a threat to their child.
To further assist dog owners in anticipating their mail carrier’s arrival, the USPS encourages individuals to sign up for the USPS Informed Delivery service.
This free service allows customers to digitally preview incoming mail and packages from various devices, offering an easier way to coordinate with mail delivery times.
A dog attack not only endangers postal employees but can also impose substantial financial burdens on dog owners.
Injuries from dog bites may lead to thousands of dollars in expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and uniform replacement costs.
When mail carriers feel unsafe due to the presence of a dog, they have the authority to suspend delivery services.
In such situations, mail must be picked up by the dog owner at their local Post Office until it is deemed safe for delivery to resume.
Moreover, if the issue regarding a dangerous dog remains unresolved, owners may be required to rent a Post Office box for their mail.
The statistics underline the importance of responsible pet ownership for the safety of both mail carriers and pets alike.
As per the USPS data, the list of cities where dog attacks on postal employees are most prevalent includes:
– Los Angeles, California — 77
– Houston, Texas — 65
– Chicago, Illinois — 57
– St. Louis, Missouri — 47
– Cincinnati, Ohio — 44
– Dallas, Texas — 43
– Kansas City, Missouri — 40
– Cleveland, Ohio — 40
– San Diego, California — 35
– Denver, Colorado — 34
– San Antonio, Texas — 32
– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — 32
– Detroit, Michigan — 32
– Columbus, Ohio — 32
– Minneapolis, Minnesota — 30
This issue remains critical for USPS and community members, highlighting the essential role of proactive measures in ensuring safe interactions between dogs and postal employees.
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