Did you get bitten at work today? It’s a crazy question, but for mail carriers, it’s one they hear far too often. And unfortunately, every single day, on average, 16 of them can answer yes.
Dog bites and attacks are the most prominent threat to mail carriers. Last year, more than 6,000 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while simply doing their jobs. Worse still, that number is up by more than 300 compared to the total dog attacks recorded in 2023, which itself was an increase from 2022. And almost all of these attacks were preventable.
The Postal Service will not rest until this worrying trend is reversed. Taking a page out of our very successful Safe Driving Campaign in March, we are expanding our typical weeklong Dog Bite Awareness Campaign to the entire month of June. Under the theme “Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track,” we are reaching out across our organization to make sure our carriers are fully trained on how to conduct themselves around dogs, know what to do should they be attacked, and have all the tools they need to protect themselves.
Even with all this training, carriers can still be attacked if a dog is unrestrained, so this year, we are trying something new to get our message across to dog owners. In the 20 markets with the most dog attacks in 2024, we are spotlighting employees who have experienced an attack. We are getting their stories out there on local TV news, newspapers and radio shows, putting a face and a name to the anonymous numbers we publish every year. By bringing this more human aspect to our campaign, I hope more dog owners will appreciate their critical role in keeping carriers safe.
I cannot overstate how essential owners are in reversing this increase. Their action or inaction will determine if an attack happens. Our tips are simple, and you can find them year-round at our dedicated Dog Bite Awareness Campaign portal, but here is the upshot: The best way to prevent an attack is to make sure your dog is away from the door when a carrier comes to deliver the mail, preferably in another room behind a closed door.
If your dog is outside, make sure it is on a leash and fully secured. And please remind all family members, especially children, not to take mail directly from a carrier — for their safety and ours. Informed Delivery™ is a great way for owners to track letters and packages and anticipate when their carrier will arrive.
There can be financial repercussions for owners, too, if their dog attacks a USPS employee. They could be held liable for medical expenses, repayment of lost work hours, uniform replacement and more, all of which can run into the thousands of dollars. And if a carrier feels threatened by a dog, the Postal Service can and will stop delivering mail to that house — and even an entire neighborhood if a roaming dog is not properly restrained and the area is deemed unsafe.
One dog attack on a mail carrier is one too many, and it troubles me that so many of our employees must deal with this trauma every day. Owners have the power to break this dangerous cycle, so let’s work together throughout this campaign and all year-round to protect the people who keep our communities connected. Because no mail carrier should ever have to wonder, will I be bitten at work today?
Leeann Theriault
Employee Safety and Health Awareness Manager
