California leads in dog bites against mail carriers

We are known for many things here in the Golden State. We can add “leader in dog bites against USPS letter carriers” to the list.

Last month, the United States Postal Service released its annual statistics of dog bites against mail carriers. Over 5,000 attacks occurred in the United States in 2022.

California led the nation, with 675 dog bite attacks last year. That number increased from the 656 dog bite incidents in 2021.

According to the USPS, many of these dog bite attacks were preceded by owners proudly proclaiming that their dog would not bite. This is often the case. The USPS always requests that dog owners restrain their dogs while mail is being delivered.

It’s not only letter carriers who are frequently the victims of dog bites in California. Gardeners and other household workers are a close second. And the most prevalent victim of dog bites are usually children.

One of my very first cases involved a dog bite. My daughter, who at the time was 5 years old, was chased down and bitten by a dog who was off-leash. If you’re a dog owner, it’s crucial that you obey all applicable leash laws to prevent the very incident that happened to my daughter.

We all love dogs. But let’s be responsible and make sure nobody gets hurt.

If you or someone you know was a victim of a dog bite in California, reach out to my office. I’m happy and ready to assist, 24/6.