Pittsburgh ranks high for mail carrier dog bites

Pittsburgh ranks high for mail carrier dog bites

The Steel City has one of the highest percentages of dogs biting mail carriers of any U.S. city.

Why it matters: We don't live in a cartoon. Dog bites are dangerous.

By the numbers: There were 21 dog attack incidents involving mail carriers in Pittsburgh in 2025, according to new USPS data.

Zoom in: That's nearly seven incidents per 100,000 residents, the sixth-highest rate of any city studied by USPS.

Zoom out: Dayton, Ohio, had 13.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, the highest rate of any city.

  • Los Angeles had the most incidents, with 70.
  • Philadelphia had 20 incidents and the lowest rate of any city with just 1.25 per 100,000 residents.

    • Data: USPS; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

    The big picture: Nationwide, postal workers dealt with over 5,200 dog attacks last year.

  • Dog attacks can leave pet owners liable for thousands of dollars to compensate for lost wages, medical expenses and other costs.

    • The bottom line: USPS' new dog bite awareness campaign began this month.

  • USPS safety manager Leeann Theriault said in a statement: "Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance."