USPS calls for customers to help prevent letter carrier dog bites

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM

By Staff report

Postal Service officials in Indiana report 67 letter carriers have experienced dog bites or dog attacks so far in fiscal year 2025.

This compares to 53 dog bites or dog attacks during the same period in 2024. The USPS fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

With deliveries every day, including Sundays and holidays, carriers experience dog bites in urban, suburban, and rural settings.

Dog attacks and bites are 100 percent preventable when dog owners remain vigilant and properly restrain their dogs. To ensure mail carriers’ safety, dog owners must securely lock their dog in another room until a delivery exchange is done. If outside, dogs must be leashed at a sufficient distance from the mailbox.

As a last resort to resolve ongoing issues with unrestrained dogs, mail service could be interrupted, not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood. When mail service is interrupted, mail must be picked up at the post office. Service would not be restored until the dog is properly restrained.

With your help, we can keep our carriers, your neighbors, and your dogs safe. The Postal Service appreciates the public’s assistance in protecting our mail carriers as we deliver packages and correspondence each day.