PHOENIX (AZFamily) — More United States Postal Service workers are getting attacked by dogs while delivering mail. The Postal Service says dog attacks in Arizona increased nearly 30% last year compared to 2023.
Joe Willers, who has been with USPS for 30 years, said he’s been bit and chased by dogs on many occasions while delivering mail. “It’s scary. I’ve had a dog that I’ve put my satchel down. I’ve put garbage cans in front, and walked around vehicles. It just keeps coming at you,” he said.
Arizona is ranked 17th in the nation for dog attacks on postal workers. In 2024, there were 75 workers attacked, and 25 of them were in Phoenix. “When a carrier gets bit, then they’re off work. When they’re off work, they can’t deliver the mail. Someone else does,” Willers said.
That’s why Willers and others encourage homeowners to keep their dogs secure so postal workers can deliver their mail out of harm’s way. “When we deliver and ring the doorbell for a delivery, you have to open that door. Put your dog into another room before we get there,” he said.
It is important to remember that the dog owner is responsible for the medical bill if a postal worker is attacked. So, to avoid a hefty bill and possibly a delayed package, you will want to watch for your dogs.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
