Philly A Top 15 City For Dog Attacks On USPS Mail Carriers

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is one of the worst cities for dog attack on mail carriers, according to the United States Postal Service.

Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 6,000 cases last year, including 32 in Philadelphia and 316 in Pennsylvania, according to USPS data.

Philadelphia is the No. 12 city for dog attacks on USPS mail carriers in the nation, data shows. Pennsylvania is No. 6 for dog attacks on mail carriers.

As part of the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the Postal Service is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of its employees.

"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," Jonah Helfrich, a Montgomery County letter carrier, said. "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."

The month-long campaign theme is "Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track."

Most people roughly know the time their letter carrier arrives daily. Securing dogs before letter carriers approach properties will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.

When mail carriers come to homes, the USPS says to keep dogs in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes.

When going outside, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so dogs do not leave the house unexpectedly.

If outside with a dog or dogs while mail is being delivered, make sure the dogs are secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash. Never accept the mail from mail carriers in the presence of dogs.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier because the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and See the Mail on Your Electronic Device Before It Arrives

The USPS encourages people to sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and See the Mail on Your Electronic Device Before It Arrives. By using this free service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier will arrive.

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.

When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service can be stopped. Until the carrier feels safe enough to restart delivery, the mail will have to be picked up at the dog owner’s local Post Office.

If a carrier feels a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver the mail and there is no way to inform residents their mail service has been suspended, the residents would have to contact the supervisor at their local Post Office for more information. The residents would also have to pick up their mail at the Post Office until it is safe to resume delivery.

If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office box to receive mail.

Below are the top 15 cities for dog attacks on mail carriers

1. Los Angeles, California — 77
2. Houston, Texas — 65
3. Chicago, Illinois — 57
4. St. Louis, Missouri — 47
5. Cincinnati, Ohio — 44
6. Dallas, Texas — 43
7. Kansas City, Missouri — 40
8. Cleveland, Ohio — 40
9. San Diego, California — 35
10. Denver, Colorado — 34
11. San Antonio, Texas — 32
12. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — 32
13. Detroit, Michigan — 32
14. Columbus, Ohio — 32
15. Minneapolis, Minnesota — 30

Below are the top 10 states for dog attacks on mail carriers:

1. California — 701
2. Texas — 438
3. Ohio — 350
4. Illinois — 344
5. New York — 322
6. Pennsylvania — 316
7. Michigan — 231
8. Florida — 210
9. Missouri — 207
10. North Carolina — 169