Dog attacks on mail carriers are on the rise. Soon in Florida, that could cost you $1,000

• Jacksonville ranks third in Florida for postal worker dog attacks, with 10 incidents in 2024.
• Florida ranks eighth nationally for dog bites on mail carriers, prompting new safety legislation.
• The Pam Rock Act, effective July 1, strengthens regulations for owners of dangerous dogs.

Jacksonville residents may want to double-check their gates and leash laws this summer.

The city has landed among the top of Florida’s cities for dog attacks on postal workers, according to the U.S. Postal Service. The report, part of the agency’s annual National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, shows the city had 10 reported incidents in 2024.

Across the country, USPS recorded more than 6,000 dog-related incidents last year. This year’s campaign, running throughout June, carries a pointed reminder: “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.”

Which Florida cities had the most reported dog bites in 2024?

According to data from the USPS, the top cities in Florida for dog bites are:

• Miami: 17
• St. Petersburg: 15
• Jacksonville: 10
• Tampa: 9
• Pensacola: 8
• Orlando: 7
• Hialeah: 6
• Clearwater: 5
• Brooksville: 4
• Pompano Beach: 4
• Pembroke Pines: 4
• New Port Richey: 4
• Middleburg: 4
• Lehigh Acres: 4

Florida ranked eighth among all states for dog bites on mail carriers, with 210 total incidents reported in 2024, making safety a statewide concern. However, here in Northeast Florida, the issue strikes a particularly somber chord and is deeply personal. In 2022, Pam Rock, a postal worker, was mauled to death by five dogs after her mail truck broke down on a rural road in Putnam County.

The tragedy drew national attention and prompted action. Rock’s family channeled their grief into advocacy, pushing lawmakers to do more to protect workers like her. Their advocacy helped push the “dangerous dogs bill,” officially named “The Pam Rock Act.”

What is the Pam Rock Act or ‘dangerous dog’ law?

On May 21, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “Pam Rock Act” into law, taking effect July 1. Under the new “dangerous dog” law, owners of dogs deemed “dangerous” must secure their animals in enclosed areas, post warning signs, register the dog with the county, and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Additionally, anyone violating the “Pam Rock Act” will be subject to fines up to $1,000 per violation, and anyone obstructing animal control from enforcing the act could get fined up to $1,000 and/or get jail time up to a year.

For Florida homeowners, it’s not just about compliance; it’s about making sure your dog doesn’t become a headline, and your mail carrier makes it home safely.

“The best way to keep safe from dog attacks is to recognize and promote the responsibility of pet ownership, such as teaching your dog appropriate behavior and commands and not allowing your dog to roam freely. All dogs — regardless of breed, size or age — have the potential to bite,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager.

Which states had the most dog attacks for postal workers?

These are the top 10 states for dog attacks in the U.S. for 2024, according to the USPS:

1. California: 701
2. Texas: 438
3. Ohio: 350
4. Illinois: 344
5. New York: 322
6. Pennsylvania: 316
7. Michigan: 231
8. Florida: 210
9. Missouri: 207
10. North Carolina: 169

How to keep your dog from attacking postal workers

Any dog, even normally non-aggressive ones, can attack if they feel their turf is being invaded.

“Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others, however, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be considered a threat when delivering the mail,” said Jonah Helfrich, a Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, letter carrier. “I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment. I strongly encourage all dog owners to take precautions to make sure their dog is secure when mail is being delivered.”

It’s not just the carrier who will be affected, although that’s enough. If a postal employee is injured the dog owner may be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs and pain and suffering for the carrie, and that can run into the thousands.

It can also mean your mail will be delayed, as the USPS prioritizes the safety of its workers and will ask you to come pick it up at a facility until the carrier feels safe returning to your home. If your dog is free to roam about, your neighbors also may have to go pick up their mail at the post office.

The USPS has suggestions to start a cease-fire in the eternal dog-carrier war:

• When it’s time for a letter carrier to arrive, keep dogs inside the house or behind a fence, in a different room with the door closed, or on a leash. Dogs can burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows if they feel threatened.
• Don’t let children take mail directly from a mail carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.
• Sign up for Informed Delivery to get a heads-up on when the mail will arrive (and get photos of your mail before it gets there).

What do USPS letter carriers do to help prevent dog bites?

USPS workers are trained to be cautious when approaching an area where they know dogs may be present and to respect a dog’s territory. Letter carriers are trained to:

• Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard
• Never startle a dog
• Keep their eyes on any dog
• Never assume a dog will not bite
• Never attempt to pet or feed a dog
• Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping

If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog — such as a mail satchel — and to use dog repellent, if necessary.

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