A mailman was taken to the hospital after he was attacked by a dog outside a home in Middletown on Monday.
The postal worker suffered bites to several parts of his body during an attack involving a pit bull that was reported at a home on Barbara Road around 4:15 p.m., according to Erik Costa, chief of the Middletown Police Department.
When officers responded to the home they found a 47-year-old resident tending to the injured mailman in the front yard, Costa said. The victim, a 48-year-old postal worker who resides in Middletown, suffered bites to his left thigh, left wrist, right forearm, lower abdomen and the back of his head, according to Costa.
Police assisted in delivering medical aid to the victim until medics and crews from the Middletown Fire Department arrived and took over, Costa said. The man was taken to Hartford Hospital and treated for his injuries, which were not considered life-threatening.
According to Costa, a preliminary investigation found that the victim was delivering mail to the residence when a 5-year-old pit bull forced the storm door open and attacked him. Witnesses reported seeing the events unfold, Costa said.
The dog was taken to the Middletown Animal Control shelter where he will be quarantined while the incident is investigated, according to Costa.
Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation has been asked to contact Animal Control at 860-638-4030.
The attack comes as the U.S. Postal Service is using the month of June to run a national campaign to raise awareness to dog bites involving mail couriers. According to USPS, dog attacks involving mail couriers rose to more than 6,000 incidents last year.
“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,” Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in a statement. “Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message for our customers to remember during the 2025 USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.”
According to the postal service, even dogs that never show any signs of aggression can be susceptible attacking to defend their territory or if they become startled, anxious or unwell.
“Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day,” the postal service wrote. “Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.
“Keep your dog in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes to your house. If you go outside, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so your dog doesn’t slip out or bust through it unexpectedly.”
According to the postal service, attacks on mail couriers can cost the dog owner thousands of dollars because they could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs and pain and suffering for the employee.
“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,” Jonah Helfrich, a letter carrier in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “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.”
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