U.S. Postal Service employees suffered more than 5,200 dog attacks in 2025.

To combat this, USPS is sharing vital safety guidance to help pet owners protect mail carriers and ensure uninterrupted mail delivery.

A monthlong Dog Bite Awareness campaign runs through June 30 with the theme of “Don’t turn your back on dog bite prevention.”

“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments,” said Leeann Theriault, employee safety and health awareness manager. “Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance. This campaign reinforces a vital truth: Animal behaviors can change in an instant, but proactive awareness from both our carriers and the customers we serve can stop painful injuries before they ever happen.”

Statistics show that Pennsylvania ranked fifth for the highest number of mail carrier dog bites in 2025, behind California, Texas, Ohio and New York.

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia had the most number of dog bites with 21 and 20 respectively, but places across the region also saw multiple reports. Reading had 12, Scranton had eight; Allentown had four, and Easton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton all had three.

The USPS notes that even the most predictable pets can act unpredictably when defending territory or feeling startled. Because dogs rely on protective instincts, owners must manage their dogs during delivery times to prevent accidents.

Keep your dog in a separate closed room before opening the front door. If you step outside, ensure the door is firmly latched. Always use a leash if your dog is outdoors during mail delivery. Finally, never accept mail directly from a carrier in the presence of your dog, and teach children to avoid doing so, as dogs can misinterpret the interaction as a threat.

The USPS notes that protecting your carrier protects your wallet. If your dog attacks a postal worker, you could owe thousands of dollars out of pocket to cover their medical care, lost shifts, replacement clothing and emotional distress.

When a carrier feels unsafe because of a roaming dog, mail service can be temporarily suspended. 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 dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a post office box to receive mail.

Postal carriers undergo extensive safety training to spot potential canine hazards.

If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to stand their ground, use their mail satchel as a protective shield and deploy dog repellent if necessary.