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Cities With the Most Dog Attacks in the US (2025 USPS Data)
The latest USPS data identifies the cities with the most dog attacks involving postal workers in 2025. Los Angeles reported 70 incidents, followed by Dallas with 50, Denver with 45, Houston with 44, and Chicago with 43. These figures cover incidents involving USPS employees and do not represent all dog bites in those cities.
To understand the cities with the most dog attacks, you need to look at the source and what it measures. USPS rankings track dog attacks and dog-related incidents involving mail carriers, while insurance and public-health data provide a broader picture of dog-related injuries.
The broader picture of US dog bite statistics reveals that dog-related injuries affect people throughout the country. These statistics can help illustrate trends, but they should not be treated as a complete count of every dog bite.
Cities With the Most Dog Attacks in 2025 (USPS Ranking)
According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 5,200 dog attacks involving postal employees were reported nationwide in 2025. The latest USPS ranking places Chicago fifth among U.S. cities, with 43 reported incidents.
| Rank | City | USPS incidents in 2025 |
| 1 | Los Angeles, California | 70 |
| 2 | Dallas, Texas | 50 |
| 3 | Denver, Colorado | 45 |
| 4 | Houston, Texas | 44 |
| 5 | Chicago, Illinois | 43 |
| 6 | St. Louis, Missouri | 40 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 35 |
| 8 | San Diego, California | 32 |
| 9 | San Antonio, Texas | 31 |
| 10 | Cleveland, Ohio | 30 |
Chicago recorded 43 incidents in 2025, compared with 57 in the 2024 USPS data. That moved Chicago from third to fifth in the annual USPS city ranking, although the rankings measure incidents involving postal workers rather than all dog bites suffered by residents.
The USPS also reported the following states as having the highest number of dog-related incidents involving postal employees in 2025:
| Rank | State | USPS incidents in 2025 |
| 1 | California | 673 |
| 2 | Texas | 358 |
| 3 | Ohio | 287 |
| 4 | New York | 269 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 267 |
| 6 | Illinois | 260 |
| 7 | Florida | 183 |
| 8 | Missouri | 182 |
| 9 | Michigan | 174 |
| 10 | Indiana | 159 |
These USPS figures should not be described as overall dog bite statistics by city or state. They specifically cover dog bites and other dog-related incidents involving postal workers.
Dog Bite Statistics by State: Insurance Claims Data
Insurance claims provide a broader measure of dog-related injury claims than USPS data. According to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, insurers recorded 28,450 dog-related injury claims in 2025 and paid approximately $1.86 billion, with an average claim cost of $65,450.
In 2024, there were 22,658 claims totaling $1.57 billion, with an average cost of $69,272 per claim. The increase in claim volume and total payouts does not mean every claim involved a dog bite or that these figures represent every injury nationwide.
For Illinois specifically, the figures provided in the research brief report 1,283 claims in 2025, with an average claim cost of $79,596. These insurance figures measure claims, not the number of individual dog attacks or bites reported to authorities.
Why Some Cities Report More Dog Attacks
Some cities may record more dog attacks on postal workers because of factors such as population size, delivery volume, housing patterns, and the number of homes where carriers interact with dogs.
Mail carriers regularly approach homes and may encounter dogs near doors, gates, yards, or package handoffs. Loose or inadequately restrained dogs can create additional risks during these interactions. However, USPS data cannot establish that any one of these factors caused a particular city’s ranking.
It is also important to distinguish USPS statistics from general dog bite statistics. USPS counts attacks and dog-related incidents involving postal employees, not all dog bites involving children, pedestrians, visitors, delivery workers, or other members of the public.
How Many Dog Bites Happen in the US Each Year?
The CDC has cited an estimate of about 4.5 million dog bites in the United States each year. This broader estimate includes dog bites involving the public and therefore measures something different from the USPS data on attacks involving postal workers.
National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign
The USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign reminds communities each year to prevent dog attacks on postal workers. The 2025 campaign emphasized securing dogs during mail delivery and taking precautions around postal employees.
By using tools like Informed Delivery to digitally preview incoming mail, dog owners can plan ahead and keep pets secured before a mail carrier arrives. Responsible pet ownership, a sturdy fence, and a simple leash can go a long way in protecting USPS workers and keeping deliveries safe.
How Mail Carriers Handle Dog Attacks
Postal employees are trained to protect themselves if a dog shows signs of aggression. A letter carrier may use their mail satchel as a shield, back away slowly, or leave the area entirely. If bitten, they must seek medical attention immediately and report the incident to their local post office. If a dog roams freely or continues to threaten workers, the postal service may suspend delivery until the dog is secured, keeping USPS employee safety as the top priority.
How Dog Owners Can Help Post Office Workers
Dog owners can help prevent dog bites by:
- Keeping pets secured behind a fence, door, or leash during deliveries.
- Teaching children not to open doors when a mail carrier is present.
- Using Informed Delivery to know when mail is expected.
- Never allowing dogs to roam freely or approach postal workers.
By taking these steps, owners help protect both their pets and the postal service workers who deliver their mail safely every day.
Postal Workers’ Legal Rights Following a Dog Bite in Illinois
Postal workers injured by a dog in Illinois may have rights under federal workers’ compensation law as well as potential rights under Illinois law. The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) may apply to qualifying injuries sustained while performing federal employment duties.
A separate civil claim against a dog owner may also be possible when the requirements of Illinois’ Animal Control Act are met. Under 510 ILCS 5/16, an owner is liable for civil damages when, without provocation, a dog attacks, attempts to attack, or injures a person who is peaceably acting in a place where they may lawfully be.
Because workers’ compensation benefits and a potential claim against a dog owner involve different legal rules, an injured postal worker should not assume that receiving workers’ compensation automatically resolves every possible claim. Before determining what legal remedies may be available, we should review the incident facts and the worker’s employment status.
For more information, see our resource on workers’ comp for bitten postal workers and our information about unleashed dog attacks.
How Dog Owners Can Help
Dog owners can take practical steps to reduce the risk of an incident involving postal workers and other visitors:
- Secure dogs before opening the door for a delivery.
- Use a leash, gate, or secure enclosure when appropriate.
- Teach children not to approach or release a dog when a carrier arrives.
- Keep dogs away from doors and areas where deliveries occur.
- Maintain appropriate training and supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles recorded the highest number of dog bite and dog-related incidents involving USPS employees in 2025, with 70 incidents. The USPS ranking focuses specifically on incidents involving postal workers, so it should not be interpreted as a ranking of all dog bites in U.S. cities.
Chicago ranked fifth in the 2025 USPS city ranking, with 43 reported incidents involving postal workers. Chicago had 57 incidents in the 2024 USPS data, when it ranked third. These figures concern USPS workers rather than the city’s total number of dog bites.
California had the most dog-related injury insurance claims in 2025, according to Triple-I and State Farm. Insurance claims data differs from USPS incident data because it covers reported insurance claims, not attacks involving postal employees.
The CDC estimates about 4.5 million dog bites in the United States each year. This is a national estimate and is broader than USPS data, which tracks dog attacks and related incidents involving postal workers.
Potentially, depending on the circumstances. Illinois’ Animal Control Act provides for civil liability when its statutory requirements are met, including an unprovoked attack, attempted attack, or injury in a place where the person may lawfully be. A postal worker’s federal workers’ compensation rights should also be considered separately.
Get Help After a Dog Attack
If you are a postal worker or another person injured by a dog in Illinois, a lawyer can review the circumstances and explain potential legal options. Our team provides free consultations and handles qualifying cases on a contingency fee basis.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld The information on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, founder and managing partner of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. With extensive experience representing dog bite victims across Chicago, Mr. Rosenfeld is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent dog owners accountable and pursue the maximum compensation available under the law. His deep legal knowledge and commitment to client advocacy ensure that the information provided is accurate, reliable, and aligned with current legal standards.