USPS reminds customers to help prevent dog bites

Monday, March 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

Postal Service officials in Indiana report that 67 letter carriers have experienced dog bites or attacks so far in fiscal year 2025. This is an increase compared to 53 incidents during the same period in 2024. The USPS fiscal year begins on October 1.

With daily deliveries, including Sundays and holidays, carriers encounter dog bites in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Dog attacks and bites are preventable when owners stay vigilant and adequately restrain their pets. To ensure the safety of mail carriers, dog owners should securely confine their dogs in another room until the delivery is complete. Dogs must be on a leash at a sufficient distance from the mailbox if outside.

As a last resort to addressing ongoing issues with unrestrained dogs, mail service may be interrupted, affecting the dog owner and the entire neighborhood. When mail service is interrupted, mail must be picked up at the post office. Service will not be restored until the dog is properly restrained.

With your help, we can ensure the safety of our carriers, neighbors, and dogs. The Postal Service values the public’s assistance in safeguarding our mail carriers as we deliver packages and correspondence daily.