Latest news with #dogattacks
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Dog attacks on USPS workers rose last year. These cities saw the most attacks.
Mail theft on the rise as USPS fails to secure keys for mailboxes Incidents involving dog attacks against U.S. Postal Service workers rose to more than 6,000 cases last year — a jump of at least 200 cases since 2023, the USPS said. California saw the greatest number of incidents involving dog attacks, with 701 in 2024. Texas ranked second with 438 incidents, followed by Ohio with 350 incidents, the USPS said in a news release Thursday. Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Missouri and North Carolina rounded out the top 10 states with the most dog incidents. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for dog attacks in 2024, according to the USPS, and the number of incidents in each city: Los Angeles — 77 Houston — 65 Chicago — 57 St. Louis — 47 Cincinnati — 44 Dallas — 43 Kansas City — 40 Cleveland — 40 San Diego — 35 Denver — 34 Dog owners might not realize their animals can attack a postal worker, but there are steps owners can take to ensure the safety of a carrier and that their mail won't be stopped, the USPS said. "Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable," Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in the USPS news release, during a promotional week to raise awareness around such incidents. "The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely," Theriault said. The USPS recommends securing dogs before the mail carrier arrives, as mail is generally delivered at a similar time every day, or keeping a dog secured on a leash if it is outside when a carrier arrives. It also says children should not take mail directly from a carrier, because the dog may view the person as a threat to the child. A postal worker from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, strongly encourages all dog owners to take precautions. "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," Jonah Helfrich said in the USPS news release.
CBS News
17-05-2025
- CBS News
New York lawmaker pushing new bill in response to vicious dog attacks
Proposed "Penny's Law" would hold New Yorkers accountable for their pets' actions Proposed "Penny's Law" would hold New Yorkers accountable for their pets' actions Proposed "Penny's Law" would hold New Yorkers accountable for their pets' actions A New York lawmaker has introduced new legislation in response to two vicious dog attacks in the city this year. Two large, aggressive dogs are accused of attacking two smaller dogs in separate incidents. One died and the other was seriously injured. 2 aggressive dogs accused of killing small dog, attacking another Lauren Claus said her 10-year-old dog, Penny, was attacked, unprovoked, by the aggressive dogs on an Upper West Side street earlier this month. "The owners did not have full control over their dogs," Claus said. "After they mauled my dog, they just were able to walk away. The only people that were even trying to hold them accountable were bystanders." The 20-pound chihuahua mix still has bandages and stitches for her lacerations and puncture wounds, and her owners say they're on the hook for almost $11,000 in vet bills because of the attack. Another dog owner said the same two dogs mauled her 17-year-old shih tzu mix, named Grover, to death in Central Park in January. Local leaders say police have been in touch with the owner of the two large dogs, but police haven't been able to do anything further because under New York law, pets are considered property. "Penny's Law" cracks down on pet owners' accountability "Pets are not property, they are family," State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar said. She has introduced a bill called "Penny's Law," which, if passed, would hold negligent dog owners criminally accountable for their pets' actions, especially in cases of attacks. It would also impose more serious penalties for leash law violations. "This is long overdue. There were over 3,000 complaints to 311 about off-leash dogs," Rajkumar said. A rally in support of the bill was held Friday near City Hall. "We need action now, so we are going to keep the pressure on the DA," New York State Assembly Chief of Staff Gregory Kirsopp said. Local leaders are hoping to get the bill passed this year. Penny's owners say they are working with lawyers, hoping for legal resource in civil court.
