Pittsburgh ranked among the cities with the most dog attacks on mail carriers last year, according to a report released by the U.S. Postal Service.
There were 21 dog attacks on mail carriers in the Steel City in 2025. That puts Pittsburgh at number 16 on the list, tied with Memphis, Oklahoma City and Sacramento.
Philadelphia saw one fewer dog attack than Pittsburgh last year.
Los Angeles was the site of the most dog attacks, with 70 incidents last year. Dallas saw the second-highest number, with 50.
“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments,” said Leeann Theriault, the postal service’s employee safety and health awareness manager. “Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance.”
A state level comparison ranked Pennsylvania fifth. The Keystone State saw 267 incidents of dogs attacking mail carriers last year.
California topped the list with 673.
The postal service in a news release urged dog owners to manage their dogs during mail delivery, cautioning that pets can behave unpredictably if they are startled or feel they’re defending their territory.
Officials encouraged pet owners to keep their dogs in a separate room before opening the front door, keep doors firmly latched and use a leash when taking a pet outdoors during mail delivery. The postal service also said people should not accept mail directly from the carrier around dogs who might misinterpret the interaction as threatening.
If a mail carrier feels unsafe because of a dog, mail service can be temporarily suspended.