Texas is a dog attack hotspot for mail carriers. How bad is it for postal workers?

Mail carriers often have to deliver packages and letters in all kinds of environments and conditions.

And that sometimes includes navigating animals while on daily routes to do so.

This is meaningful as the number of dog attacks on mail carriers has reportedly increased to 5,800 within the last calendar, recent data from the U.S. Postal Service shows.

While a dog attack can be unpredictable, there are states where incidents are more common than others.

Texas ranks second in the U.S. with the highest number of dog attacks on mail carriers, a study by Mail King USA found.

“Dog attacks on postal workers are a serious safety concern. It is important to educate pet owners about the dangers of allowing their dogs to bite,” Mail King USA said. “ We urge everyone to keep their dogs on leashes and in their yards when postal workers are in the area.”

These incidents can result in physical injuries and emotional trauma for employees, as well as disruptions to mail delivery services, experts said.

To determine which states pose the most danger, the researchers examined the most recent data on dog attacks from the US Postal Service. They examined the data from the previous two years to determine if the number of attacks had increased or reduced.

California had the highest number of dog attacks on postal workers in 2023. Texas was second, with 411 reported dog attacks, up from 2022 figures.

In the top 20 cities with the most dog attacks last year, Houston ranked second, with 56 dog attacks. Dallas ranked seventh with 39 dog attacks, and Fort Worth ranked 17th, with 23.

“All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury,” Leeann Theriault, a USPS manager, said.

USPS recommends dog owners keep their animals inside the home, behind a fence or in another room, and on a leash.

States with the most dog attacks on postal workers

1. California
   
   
2. Texas
3. Ohio
4. Pennsylvania
5. Illinois
6. New York
7. Florida
8. North Carolina
9. Michigan
10. Missouri

This story was originally published September 20, 2024 at 1:48 PM.