USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign Highlights Rising Incidents

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently concluded its 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, which ran from June 2 to June 9, following a rise in dog attacks on postal employees, which reached over 5,800 cases last year. This year’s theme, "Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you," aimed to encourage dog owners to secure their pets and ensure the safety of mail carriers.

Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager of Employee Safety and Health Awareness, emphasized the importance of responsible pet ownership to prevent injuries to letter carriers. USPS advised pet owners to keep dogs inside the house, behind a fence, or on a leash during mail delivery times and reminded children not to take mail directly from carriers to avoid potential threats from dogs.

USPS also promoted its Informed Delivery service, which allows customers to digitally preview incoming mail, helping dog owners anticipate delivery times. The financial impact of dog bites is significant, with the average cost per insurance claim at $64,555, and owners could be liable for medical bills and other expenses if their dog attacks a postal worker.

Postal workers are trained to handle dog encounters, including making non-threatening noises, keeping their eyes on dogs, and using mail satchels to protect themselves if necessary. Carriers can also halt mail delivery if they feel unsafe, requiring residents to pick up their mail from the local Post Office until the threat is resolved.

The campaign highlighted cities with the highest dog attacks in 2023, with Los Angeles leading the list, followed by Houston and Chicago. The top states for dog bites included California, Texas, and Ohio.