This East Bay City Has Some Of The Most Dog Attacks On Mail Carriers In The U.S.

OAKLAND, CA — Mail carriers in Oakland may be favoring cats for the foreseeable future, as newly released data from the United States Postal Service shows the East Bay city was one of the top cities for dog attacks on its employees.

Oakland ranked No. 12 on the list —tied with Phoenix — with 27 dog bites on mail carriers recorded in 2025.

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Neighboring San Francisco had a three-way tie with Miami and Rochester, New York, with 16 dog bites, enough to take the final ranking at No. 20.

Los Angeles took the top spot with 70 dog bites on mail carriers in 2025. California took the No. 1 spot across all states with 673 dog bite incidents, USPS officials said.

The data was released as part of the United States Postal Service's efforts to ensure the safety of its mail carriers.

Through June, they're running a month-long Dog Bite Awareness Campaign. The theme is "Don’t turn your back on dog bite prevention," according to officials.

"Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments," said Leeann Theriault, employee safety and health awareness manager at USPS. "Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance. This campaign reinforces a vital truth: Animal behaviors can change in an instant, but proactive awareness from both our carriers and the customers we serve can stop painful injuries before they ever happen."

There were more than 5,200 dog attacks on mail carriers in the United States last year, officials said.

Fiona Hudson, a letter carrier in San Antonio, recalled the moment a dog jumped a fence and went after her.

She used her dog repellent, but by then it was too late; the dog had gotten a hold of her, USPS officials said.

"I was rushed to the hospital bleeding, with a broken bone, a severe arm sprain and was barely able to move," Hudson said. "While my physical wounds have healed, the trauma of that vicious attack stays with me. Customers must take responsibility and secure their dogs during delivery hours."

USPS officials say they stop mail delivery when carriers feel unsafe, and that mail will transition to pick-up only if that's the case anywhere.

Officials ask that dog owners take the proper precautions to avoid issues with carriers, including keeping them leashed if mail delivery is going on.

"Even the most predictable pets can act unpredictably when defending territory or feeling startled," officials said. "Because dogs rely on protective instincts, owners must manage their dogs during delivery times to prevent accidents."

For the full list of cities with the most dog bites, click here.