A Surprising Delivery Day

A few years ago I was at my sister-in-law's home and we were chatting away about something when her very large Doberman perked up his ears and headed for the door. To my surprise, she let him out and he went running to the package delivery person. The lady who was delivering packages saw him coming and bent down to say hello. She had a treat for him and he knew it. My SIL told me that this lady had been delivering their packages for a while and she welcomed big slobbery kisses.

Dogs and Delivery Drivers Don’t Always Mix

But for many mail carriers and package delivery drivers, dogs can be a real threat to their safety which led to the annual National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign during the month of June. Dogs are territorial animals and even little or docile ones can turn aggressive if they feel like their home and family are being threatened.

Cities Where the Most Attacks on USPS Mail Carriers Happen

According to an article by USPS.com, dog attacks on their employees rose to 6,000 last year. Los Angeles was the top city for dog attacks on workers, but cities like Indianapolis, Louisville, Chicago, and Memphis made the top 20. Illinois was the fourth-highest state for dog attacks on mail carriers. Now, in all fairness, this list didn’t account for population, and since these are highly populated cities with more dogs, they’d naturally have more incidents of dog attacks.

Photo by Jen B on Unsplash
Photo by Jen B on Unsplash
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Dog Attacks Can Be Serious or Even Deadly

Dog attacks are no joke and have even turned deadly. I remember when a foster dog that we housed started growling at our Akita. I put my hand in front of my dog's face to help mitigate the eye contact and ease the aggressive feelings the dog was having. Though Akitas are often an aggressive breed, mine was a super sweet, good old boy that never started a fight but knew how to finish it. Before I knew it, the foster dog went straight for his face but caught my hand instead. It caused a severe puncture wound on my hand that needed medical treatment.

Currently, if a dog attacks a postal carrier, the owner is responsible for all costs associated with the attack, including medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and they can even ask for compensation for pain and suffering.

Photo by ARTISTIC FRAMES on Unsplash
Photo by ARTISTIC FRAMES on Unsplash
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What USPS Is Asking Dog Owners to Do

The United States Postal Service is asking that dog owners be mindful of their postal carriers and take steps to keep them safe.

“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. All dogs — regardless of breed, size or age — have the potential to bite,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager. “Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.”

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Safety Tips for Dog Owners

In the article, they offer a few tips to keep in mind if you own a dog. First, if you know the mail carrier is coming, put your dog up. Sometimes, even dogs that "wouldn't hurt a fly" will feel unwell or have anxiety and lash out at a postal worker for unexplained reasons. USPS offers a service called USPS Informed Delivery, a free service where customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet, or mobile device.

They also ask that children do not take mail from postal carriers if there’s a dog present. Dogs have an innate sense to protect kids and this is sometimes seen as a threat to the child.

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
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What Postal Carriers Are Trained to Do

Postal carriers have also been trained to avoid contact with dogs. You might notice them making non-threatening noises or rattling fences to alert a dog that they are there, doing their best not to startle them. They should never pet or feed a dog, and have been trained to put their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping. They have also been trained to stay vigilant and not assume a particular dog will not bite. They undergo dog attack training and have tools such as dog alert features on their scanners and dog warning cards to alert carriers to addresses where a dog might interfere with delivery.

If an aggressive dog is on the property and impedes delivery, it will be up to the recipient to pick up their mail or packages at the post office to ensure the safety of employees.

READ MORE: United States Postal Service Implements New Delivery Changes from Their 10-Year Plan

Just Put the Dog Up

So next time you see your mail carrier walking or driving up the driveway, take a moment to make sure your furry friend is secured. It’s a small action that helps keep everyone safe. Your mail carrier (and your dog) will thank you.

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