11/07/2025
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Yesterday, we had a USPS Letter Carrier bitten by a dog while delivering mail.
The dog pushed passed its owner through a partially opened door and attacked the Letter Carrier.
If you have a dog that is protective, it is your responsibility to ensure your dog is well-confined, so that Letter Carriers (and other delivery agents) can remain safe while doing their jobs.
A few tips:
📪 keep your dog indoors, away from the door during delivery times, keeping in mind that delivery times can unexpectedly change;
📪 if your dog must be in your yard, ensure it is well-secured behind a fence which is away from the mailbox and away from the carrier’s path to the mailbox;
📪 instruct age-appropriate children not to open the door, even slightly, as a dog can easily slip past a child (and an adult, as this incident proves) if stimulated – young and un-instructible children and dogs should always be supervised inside and outside homes, and near doorways;
📪 monitor your dog's behavior, as dogs can become protective as they get older – if you notice an increase in protectiveness, commence extra precautions immediately.
According to a recent U.S. Postal Service report, there were more than 6,000 dog attacks on USPS Letter Carriers, in 2024, “marking a 7-year high.” And while it is still too early to obtain 2025 figures, data shows that these incidents have been increasing annually, suggesting that 2025’s USPS bite data may be notably higher than that of 2024.
UPS reports around 900 dog bites each year. While Fed Ex and Amazon do not have any firm report numbers, legal reports indicate that dog attacks are a growing occupational hazard for all delivery service providers.
Remember, if your dog is outside, and your Letter Carrier feels unsafe, he/she/they may not deliver your mail, and you may be asked (by the USPS) to pick up your mail at the Post Office, until your dog remains secured or until the USPS officials feel it is safe to resume delivery.
Other delivery agencies have their own sets of policies related to dogs and their drivers.
[Image: dog bite to the leg of a Dedham USPS Letter Carrier who supports the promotion of dog bite prevention in our community, following his incident this week]
