NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For decades, movies and TV shows have shown mail carriers being chased and attacked by dogs, but in reality, it happens more than you might think.
According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), incidents involving dog attacks on employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year — about 500 more cases than in 2022.
“Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager, Employee Safety and Health Awareness.
Data shows that postal workers in some states have it worse than others. Based on statistics compiled by the USPS, Tennessee was ranked as the 15th state with the most dog attacks on letter carriers last year.
In total, there were 116 incidents reported in the state, which is 32 more than in 2022. One Tennessee city also appears to be worse than others when it comes to dog attacks on USPS employees.
Memphis was among the top 20 cities in the nation for dog attacks last year. The city came in at No. 13, with 29 dog attacks reported.
The top five states with the most dog attacks on postal workers were California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Many of the top cities were also in those states, including Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, St. Louis and Cleveland.
Due to the large amount of dog bites reported every year, letter carriers receive training on how to handle these encounters and what to watch for. According to the USPS, all employees know that even dogs perceived as nonaggressive can bite.
“Even though a customer’s dog is friendly to most people, it can always have a bad day,” said letter carrier Tara Snyder. “I know, from experience, even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier.”
Dog bites are not only dangerous but can be costly. According to the most recent information available from the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555.
In the event that a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and expenses for pain and suffering. Mail service can also be stopped when a carrier feels unsafe.
When a letter carrier comes to your home, USPS asks that owners keep dogs:
- Inside the house or behind a fence;
- Away from the door or in another room; or
- On a leash.
Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.
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