The U.S. Postal Service has released a list of the cities where the highest number of dog bites on UPS workers were recorded in 2024, and a Newsweek map highlights the danger zones.
The city with the highest number of incidents is Los Angeles, where 77 employees were attacked. Houston is second, with 65 dog bites, and Chicago is next with 57 incidents recorded.
Why It Matters
The U.S. Postal Service said that there were more than 6,000 incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees last year.
It has launched a USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign to advise dog owners on how to prevent these attacks from happening, most importantly that dogs should be kept secured when mail is delivered.
What To Know
The U.S. Postal Service listed 38 cities in which the greatest number of dog bite incidents took place in 2024.
The full list is:
- Los Angeles, California – 77
- Houston, Texas – 65
- Chicago, Illinois – 57
- St. Louis, Missouri – 47
- Cincinnati, Ohio – 44
- Dallas, Texas – 43
- Kansas City, Missouri – 40
- Cleveland, Ohio – 40
- San Diego, California – 35
- Denver, Colorado – 34
- San Antonio, Texas – 32
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 32
- Detroit, Michigan – 32
- Columbus, Ohio – 32
- Minneapolis, Minnesota – 30
- Indianapolis, Indiana – 26
- Phoenix, Arizona – 25
- Memphis, Tennessee – 25
- Omaha, Nebraska – 24
- Louisville, Kentucky – 24
- Rochester, New York – 23
- Toledo, Ohio – 21
- Sacramento, California – 21
- El Paso, Texas – 21
- San Francisco, California – 20
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 20
- Milwaukee – 20
- Albuquerque, New Mexico – 20
- Stockton, California – 18
- Oakland, California – 18
- Youngstown, Ohio – 17
- Salt Lake City, Utah – 17
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 17
- Miami, Florida – 17
- Des Moines, Iowa – 17
- St. Petersburg, Florida – 15
- Fort Worth, Texas – 15
- Birmingham, Alabama – 15
The agency said that mail carriers are trained on how to handle approaching properties where dogs are present and how to handle an attack.
However, these attacks can be very dangerous and can lead to injuries that require mail carriers to seek medical attention.
In the case of a dog attack, the dog owner could be liable for thousands of dollars of medical bills and wages, among other expenses.
What People Are Saying
Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in a press release: “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.”
“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.”
What Happens Next
If a mail carrier feels unsafe delivering mail due to issues such as an unsecured dog or repeated incidents, they can decide to stop delivering mail to the property until safety can be guaranteed.
The USPS will continue its National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign to try to prevent more incidents.
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