It’s National Dog Bite Awareness Week: Oregon ranks 29th in U.S. for dog attacks on mail carriers

Oregon is 29th in the nation for dog bite attacks against postal employees last year, with a total of 57 reported incidents statewide. That’s an increase of 17 occurrences, when compared to 2022.

Portland led the way with the most reported dog bite incidents in the state. There were 19 reported incidents last year, compared to three occurrences in 2022. Portland is number 20 on the top 25 nationwide list of cities for the most dog bites against postal employees. The city tied for 20th place with Long Beach, California, Detroit, Michigan and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Nationwide, there were approximately 5,822 reported dog bites against postal employees last year. That’s an increase of more than 530 occurrences compared to 2022.

The top five worst states for dog bites are California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. With owners’ help, we can bring the numbers down to zero in Oregon and nationwide.

Dog Bites in Oregon’s Five Largest Cities Since 2019

Every year, the Postal Service participates in National Dog Bite Awareness Week to bring awareness to the potential issues faced by postal employees delivering their routes. This year’s campaign runs Sunday, June 2 through Saturday, June 9 with the theme, “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.”

Pet Owners Can Help Stop Trouble Before it Starts

“If dog owners would take a few extra moments of precaution every day, such as securing their dog before the carrier approaches the property, it will help minimize any potential of unsafe dog interactions,” said Oregon acting district manager Eric Gilbert.

“The best way to keep everyone safe from dog bites is to recognize and promote responsible pet ownership. It is our belief that a trained dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog makes for a happy owner.”

When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep dogs:

• Inside the house or securely behind a fence;
• Away from the door or in another room; or
• On a leash.

Pet owners also should remind their children not to take mail directly from the carrier as the dog may view them as a threat.

It’s hard for dog owners to believe their dog would bite anyone. Unfortunately even the friendliest dogs can bite, depending on the circumstance. Dogs are primarily territorial in nature and protective of their owners and their owners’ property, defending its territory sometimes means attacking — and possibly biting — the mail carrier.

Being Aware

Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory. 

Carriers also have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes. A dog alert feature on carriers’ handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards may be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to routes where a dog has been known to interfere with delivery.

If a dog attacks, our employees 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.

Aftermath of an Attack

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. When a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee.

Lastly, when a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be halted — not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood. When mail service is stopped, mail must be picked up at the Post Office and service to the home or community will not be restored until the aggressive dog is properly restrained.

Many attacks could be avoided if dog owners would take a few extra moments of precaution. Even one bite is one too many when it comes to the safety of letter carriers, friends and family, and members of our communities.