New York Lands a Top Spot For Dog Bites Among Postal Workers

New York has landed in the top spot on an unfortunate list for USPS mail carriers, with one city in particular taking a spot in the top 30.

NY Lands Spot on USPS Dog Bite National Rankings

In May 2024, the United States Postal Service released dog bite data among postal carriers and the rankings across the United States.

Unfortunately, New York ranked in the top for 2 major lists.

Read More: U.S. Postal Service Asks New Yorkers for a Favor

According to the USPS, "dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year." From June 2nd through June 9th is National Dog Bite Awareness Week and the USPS is running a campaign where they will release "crucial information" on how dog owners can ensure safety for their local mail carriers.

2023 Dog Bite Rankings in New York Data

Unfortunately, of the 2 data lists that the USPS released, New York ranked at the top of both lists.

Buffalo New York was ranked 19th out of the Top 20 cities for the most dog bites among USPS carriers.

As for New York State in general, it was ranked #6 in the Top 10 of states with the most dog bites with 296 in 2023.

Ways to Protect Our NY Postal Workers From Dog Bites

According to the United States Postal Service website, postal carriers are trained on how to handle a possible dog attack.

The USPS tells their carriers to do the following:

• Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard;
• Never startle a dog;
• Keep their eyes on any dog;
• Never assume a dog will not bite;
• Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and
• Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping

As for dog owners, what should you do if a mail carrier is approaching your home? It should be common knowledge, but the USPS writes:

• Keep your dogs inside the house or behind a fence.
• Make sure the dog is away from the door or in another room
• Or keep your dog on a leash.

To learn more about the USPS and dog bite data visit USPS.com.