California Achieves Another Unwanted First

The Golden State is number one in yet another National category, this one not particularly welcomed: California is first in dog bites on Postal letter carriers!

The United States Postal Service (USPS), Crescent City Post Office and the Crescent City Police Department sponsored a National Dog Bite Awareness event earlier this month.

The campaign included a demonstration bringing attention to the long-standing problem of dog bites upon postal letter carriers. The demonstration offered safety tips and emphasized the need for increased owner responsibility in the prevention of dog attacks. The need is palpable in the Golden State.

USPS reports California ranks first with the number of dog bite attacks in the Nation. Last year, there were 727 dog attacks on postal letter carriers far exceeding Texas with 411 incidents In 2023.

Local letter carriers Michelle Martin and Andy Amos shared personal stories of dog attacks on their person while delivering the mail and shared their training involved in combating this chronic problem.

Dog owners are asked to keep their pets inside the home or behind a secured fence, away from a door or on a secured leash.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat. Stay informed, See the mail before it arrives.

If your pet is deemed a threat or nuisance to the letter carrier, you may be declined mail delivery service and compelled to have your mail placed on hold. Long-term dog issues may mandate you to rent a postal mailbox.

The Crescent City Post Office’s message during Dog Bite Awareness Week, “ Don’t Let Your Dog Bite the Hand that Serves You.”

USPS and the Crescent City Post Office urge the public to help lower California’s infamous dog bite rating.