UMVA has learned that the United States Postal Service is issuing an urgent warning to keep dogs secured during mail deliveries after more than 5,200 postal workers were attacked by canines last year.
The agency has launched its annual Dog Bite Awareness campaign, a month‑long June push aimed at slashing attacks on carriers and urging responsible pet ownership.
“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast‑changing environments,” said the USPS safety manager, emphasizing that constant, shared vigilance is the only shield against dog‑related incidents.
Even the friendliest‑looking pooch can snap when it feels threatened or territorial, the USPS cautioned, so owners must lock doors, leash pets during delivery hours, and never hand mail to carriers while animals linger nearby.
Dog bites carry hefty financial fallout for owners—medical bills, lost wages, property damage and more—making prevention a matter of both safety and economics.
One harrowing example came from San Antonio letter carrier Fiona Hudson, who was lunged at by a dog that jumped a fence, leaving her with a broken bone, a severe arm sprain and a flood of blood that sent her to the hospital.
Hudson’s plea is clear: secure your pets during delivery windows, or risk endangering the very people who bring you your letters.
If carriers feel unsafe, the USPS can suspend service to the affected address, forcing residents to collect mail at a local post office or, in extreme cases, rent a PO box.
Neighbors with roaming dogs may also be asked to pick up their mail at the post office until the situation is resolved.
Los Angeles topped the list of cities with the most mail‑carrier attacks last year, recording 70 incidents, followed by Dallas with 50, Denver with 45, Houston with 44 and Chicago with 43.
“The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority,” the agency affirmed, underscoring the critical need for pet owners to act now.
