Nearly 6,000 USPS workers attacked by dogs in 2020
By Daniella Genovese
More than 5,800
United States Postal Service (USPS) carriers have been threatened by "aggressive dog behavior" over the past year, prompting concern by the agency.
The carriers have faced anything from "nips and bites to vicious attacks," according to the government agency's annual report.
Houston, Texas, with about 73 reported attacks, tops the list, according to USPS, which ranked the most dog attacks by city. Coming in close behind was Chicago with 59, Los Angeles with 54, and Denver with 44.
Overall, however, California had the most attacks – 782 – of all 50 states.
"I knocked on a customer’s door to pick up a package and as a young child answered, a dog came bursting out of the door and bit my forearm, knocking me to the ground," Kansas-based letter carrier James Michael Benson said. "I was in shock and struggling with the dog, when he lunged and bit me again on my face, under my ear."