Los Angeles leads nation in dog attacks on USPS workers, new data shows
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.
Other California cities also made the top 20 list, including San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, and Oakland.
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
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
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.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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