OHIO — Many dog owners know when the mail arrives, even if they’re not using a tracking service.

That’s probably because the dog is barking at the door as they see or hear the mail carrier arriving. While some barking from a secured dog can be harmless, that’s unfortunately not always where it stops.

What You Need To Know

  • USPS is cautioning dog owners of the dangers their unsecured pets pose to their mail carriers

  • There were more than 6,000 dog attacks against Postal Service employees last year

  • Ohio was the third-worst state for dog bite incidents

  • Several Ohio cities also made the top 20 cities with the most incidents

The theme of this year’s 2025 United States Postal Service National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign is “Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track” as the Postal Service cautions dog owners about the dangers their unsecured canine companions pose to mail carriers.

Last year, they said in a press release, their employees were subjected to more than 6,000 dog attacks.

And in Ohio, we have some work to do.

The Buckeye State ranked third for the highest amount of dog bite incidents, surpassed only by California and Texas yet ahead of New York and Illinois, cities with major metropolitan hubs.

“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,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, in the release. “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.”

According to the USPS, Ohio had 350 dog bite incidents in 2024, and several Ohio cities ranked in the top 20 (a list with several ties).

  • Cincinnati ranked fifth with 44 dog bite incidents/attacks
  • Cleveland ranked seventh with 40 dog bite incidents/attacks
  • Columbus ranked 10th with 32 dog bite incidents/attacks
  • Toledo ranked 16th with 21 dog bite incidents/attacks
  • Youngstown ranked 19th with 17 dog bite incidents/attacks

The USPS said most people know roughly when their postal carrier will arrive each day and suggests keeping your dog secure around that time to avoid a potential interaction.

If you go outside to collect your mail, ensure your door is fully closed so the dog doesn’t slip through the crack. They also remind owners to have their dog secured on a leash if they are outside when mail is being delivered.

Never, they say, take mail from the carrier while with your dog.

“Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier because the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child,” the release reads.

They also suggest utilizing the free USPS Informed Delivery so you can see when mail and packages will arrive to know when to secure your dog.

If your dog attacks a postal worker, it’s not only dangerous but also could be expensive.

“When a postal employee suffers an injury from a dog attack, it can cost the dog owner thousands of dollars because they could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee,” the release reads.

Mail carriers do receive training on how to deal with dogs and have various tools available to assist them, but it is still best to avoid the interaction entirely by keeping your pet secure.

The USPS said it’s possible your mail delivery could be suspended if the deliverer feels unsafe. In that event, the owner would need to pick up their mail from their post office.

“If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office box to receive mail,” the release reads.