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Long Island tops New York in dog attacks on postal workers, racking up 83 bites: ‘You're always afraid'
See Spot — run!
Dogs took a bite of postal workers on Long Island more than 80 times last year — leading New York in canine encounters by a lengthy margin, new data from the US Postal Service found.
Nassau and Suffolk counties' mail carriers were used as chew toys by man's best friend 83 times along their routes — accounting for more than 25% of all dog attacks (322) reported statewide in 2024.
Nassau and Suffolk counties' mail carriers were chewed on by man's best friend 83 times along their routes — accounting for more than 25% of all dog bites reported statewide last year.
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'Every day, all day, you have to be very observant out there around you, especially the dogs,' Diana Villatoro, a 57-year-old mail carrier from Franklin Square, told Newsday.
Long Island saw more than triple the number of attacks than those in Rochester, the city with the most incidents in the state, which logged 23, according to the data.
Meanwhile, the entire Big Apple also paled in comparison, combining for just 54 bites.
Nassau recorded 43 attacks and Suffolk 40 last year, the Postal Service found.
Hempstead, Bay Shore and Amityville logged four dog bites each last year — the most among Long Island's nearly 60 communities, the data show.
Villatoro, whose route is based in Hicksville, encounters about 30 dogs each day along her travels.
Bitten by a stray Doberman about 15 years ago, Villatoro said she needed stitches and a series of rabies shots — and remains traumatized from the incident.
New York City only saw 54 dog bites in 2024 compared to 43 coming from Nassau County, and another 40 attacks occurring in Suffolk County, according to data from the US Postal Service.
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'You're always afraid that you're going to get bit,' she told the outlet.
The numbers were released as part of the Postal Service's annual dog bite awareness campaign, launched to highlight the dangers of the job — especially during warmer months when more canines are out on the prowl.
Postal officials warn that if a carrier feels unsafe around a certain pup, mail delivery to that address could be suspended.
As part of the campaign, postal officials are also urging pet owners to keep their canines inside or securely restrained when mail is being delivered.
Strict safety protocols have already been in place for years though to try and prevent attacks, including barring mail carriers from wearing earbuds, requiring them to carry non-lethal dog repellent, and flagging addresses with known aggressive dogs using bright orange warning cards.
'You never know what a dog is thinking even if an owner says it doesn't bite,' Hicksville Postmaster Annette D'Amato said.
'My first priority is to make sure my carriers are safe.'
