USPS urges residents to secure dogs to protect mail carriers

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As the U.S. Postal Service observes Dog Bite Awareness Month in June, postal officials are reminding pet owners to take steps to help keep mail carriers safe while making deliveries.

The message comes as concerns remain about dog attacks on postal employees. According to USPS, six dog bite incidents involving carriers were reported in Wilmington and Southport in 2025. While the number of attacks has declined in recent years, North Carolina ranked 12th in the nation for dog attacks on postal workers in 2025.

The dangers of dog attacks are not new. Kasina Flowers of Youngstown, Ohio, recalled an incident in 2018 when she intervened to help a mail carrier being attacked by two dogs.

“The one bigger dog ended up pushing the gate open. The smaller dog followed him, but the bigger dog attacked the mailman,” Flowers said.

Postal officials say many incidents can be prevented when pet owners secure their animals before a carrier arrives.

“As we approach your yard, you know, just make sure that we have access either to your porch, to your mailbox,” said Zachary Bathon, a USPS city letter carrier.

Bathon says there are simple measures that can help prevent unexpected encounters.

“It’s things like putting your dog behind the fence, maybe moving the dog inside. Even as we come out to your porch, we knock on your door, maybe move the dog to another room of the house, that way we can open the door without having the possibility of a surprise with a dog,” said Bathon.

Mail carriers also receive training on how to respond to potentially dangerous situations involving animals. Bathon said one technique involves using a mail satchel.

“When I say we use our satchels, it’s just to create a barrier to, you know, put your hand in the satchel, just creates a barrier between you and the animal that allows you to back away safely,” said Bathon.

Bathon said some carriers also carry dog repellent for extreme situations.

Still, he emphasized that communication and cooperation between residents and carriers remain the most effective tools for preventing attacks.

“We can work with each other to keep the letter carrier safe,” said Bathon.

USPS officials also recommend keeping dogs on a leash and avoiding direct interactions between pets and mail carriers during deliveries.