JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida ranked nationally for dog attacks on United States Postal Service employees in 2023, with 10 attacks happening in Jacksonville, USPS announced in a news release.
There were more than 5,800 incidents involving dog attacks on postal service employees in 2023, according to USPS.
California ranked No. 1 in the country for dog attacks, with a staggering 727 attacks in 2023, followed by Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and Florida. Florida ranks No. 7 on the national list, with 193 attacks.
Jacksonville was ranked third for dog bites in Florida.
Here's a look at Florida cities ranked for dog attacks:
- Miami, 21 attacks
- St. Petersburg, 15 attacks
- Jacksonville, 10 attacks
- Orlando, 9 attacks
- Tampa, 6 attacks
- Pompano Beach, 5 attacks
- Brooksville, 5 attacks
- Oakland Park, 4 attacks
- Fort Lauderdale, 4 attacks
- Pensacola, 3 attacks
In an effort to curb a growing number of attacks, the organization launched the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign. The campaign runs from Sunday to June 9. The theme for this year's campaign is: "Don't let your dog bite the hand that serves you."
“Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury,” said USPS Employee Safety and Health Awareness Manager Leeann Theriault.
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According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is more than $64,000.
"When a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee," the release states.
USPS is asking dog owners to secure their pets on a leash or away from the front door before a mail carrier arrives to minimize the chances of any dangerous interactions.
"I know, from experience, even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier," said Tara Snyder, a USPS letter carrier.
*The following video is from a previous newscast*
