The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released the latest statistics on dog bites while delivering mail. According to the new report, more than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs in 2022. This is one of the leading causes of injury for USPS employees and the impetus behind the organization's National Dog Bite Awareness Week, which runs this week from June 4 to June 10.

Houston topped the list in the number of dog bites, at 57, followed by Los Angeles at 48 and Dallas at 44. Cleveland and San Diego rounded out the top five. 

“When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable and they attack,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager. “Help us deliver your mail safely by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before your carrier arrives.”

The state with the highest number of dog bites in 2022 was California, with 675 bites, up from 656 the year before. Texas was second on the list with 404 bites, up from 368 in 2021. New York was third with 321 dog bites, up from 239.

Ohio saw a drop in the number of dog bites, down to 311, from 359 the year before. 

“When our mail carriers are bitten, it is usually a ‘good dog’ that had not previously behaved in a menacing way,” said USPS occupational safety and health senior director Linda DeCarlo. “In 2022, too many aggressive dogs impacted the lives of our employees while delivering the mail. Please help us reduce that number by being a responsible pet owner who secures their dog as we deliver the mail.”

The USPS is asking people to make attempts to prevent dog interactions with carriers, including keeping dogs inside the house or behind a fence and keeping dogs on a leash. The USPS also reminds parents to not let children take mail directly from a letter carrier, as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.