USPS: All dogs — regardless of breed, size or age — have the potential to bite
Incidents involving dog attacks on United States Postal Service employees rose to more than 6,000 cases last year. As part of the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organisation is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of its employees.
“The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognise 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.”
By using USPS Informed Delivery, a free service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. Millions of customers have enrolled since the service was launched in 2017. This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier will arrive.
The Cost of a Dog Attack
When a postal employee suffers an injury from a dog attack, it can cost the dog owner thousands of dollars because they could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee.
“Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others, however, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be considered a threat when delivering the mail,” said Jonah Helfrich, a Blue Bell, PA, letter carrier. “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. I strongly encourage all dog owners to take precautions to make sure their dog is secure when mail is being delivered.”
