Alabama is 25th for USPS dog bites: what to know + how to help

After an increase in postal workers attacked by dogs last year, the US Postal Service released a national dog bite ranking.

Alabama ranked 25th, with 81 incidents in 2024.

The numbers

In 2024, dogs attacked postal employees on 6,088 occasions.

California ranked highest with 701 incidents, followed by Texas (438) and Ohio (350). These numbers were not adjusted for population size.

Alabama came in at 25th, with 81 dog bite incidents last year.

Los Angeles was far and away the worst city nationwide at 77, nearly as many as the entire state of Alabama. Next were Houston (65) and Chicago (57).

In Alabama, the worst cities were:

1. Birmingham, 15
2. Montgomery, 5
3. Opelika, 4
4. Northport, 3
5. Fort Payne, 3
6. Huntsville, 2
7. Ashland, 2
8. Gadsden, 2
9. 45 cities with a single incident

Why it matters

Dog bites aren’t just dangerous to postal employees, they also carry significant repercussions for the dog owner.

Depending on the incident, the dog owner could end up liable for thousands of dollars. These cover medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs and damages to the employee.

Mail service can also be interrupted if a carrier feels unsafe delivering to your home or neighborhood. When this is the case, residents have to pick up their mail at the local post office until the situation is resolved.

If a dangerous dog situation remains unresolved, the owner could be required to rent a Post Office box to receive their mail.

What to do

Throughout the month of June, the US Postal Service is running a Dog Bite Awareness Campaign.

“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. Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. 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. Help ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.”

Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager

Mail carriers are trained for safe delivery, but there are important steps dog owners can take to help.

Dog owners shouldn’t just know how to take care of their dog, including the importance of spay/neuter programs, but also how to aid in a smooth mail service.

• Never assume your dog would not bite someone. No matter how adorable you think they are, all dogs have the capacity to bite if put in the wrong set of circumstances.
• Most people know the approximate time their mail gets delivered. Securing your dog prior to this window can go a long way in preventing incidents. If you do not know when your mail is arriving, you can sign up for informed delivery to do so.
• If possible, keep your dog in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes to your house.
• If you go outside to collect your mail, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so your dog doesn’t slip out or burst through it unexpectedly.
• If you are outside with your dog while mail is being delivered, make sure your dog is secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash.
• Never accept the mail from your mail carrier in the presence of a loose dog.

These instructions are especially important if children are accepting the mail. A dog’s instinct is to protect its pack, especially those deemed more vulnerable. If children accept mail directly from the postal employee, their dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.

What precautions are you taking to help postal employees? Show us by tagging @thebamabuzz on socials and using the hashtag #DogBiteAwareness.