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Letter to the editor: Chattanooga postmaster urges safety around dogs

AP Photo by David Goldman / A dog looks on from behind the front door as U.S. Postal Service letter carrier of 19 years, Michael McDonald, delivers mail in the East Atlanta neighborhood, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, in Atlanta. The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service wants to stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to deliver packages six days a week under a plan aimed at saving about $2 billion a year. AP Photo by David Goldman / A dog looks on from behind the front door as U.S. Postal Service letter carrier of 19 years, Michael McDonald, delivers mail in the East Atlanta neighborhood, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, in Atlanta. The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service wants to stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to deliver packages six days a week under a plan aimed at saving about $2 billion a year.

By Community submissions June 13, 2026 2 min read

Keep your dogs, mail carriers safe

Did anyone bite you at work today?

On average, 14 mail carriers per day will say “yes.”

In 2025, over 5,200 mail carriers experienced dog bites or dog attacks. Dog bites affect carriers in all kinds of communities, from busy city streets to suburban driveways and quiet rural roads.

Dog attacks and bites are 100% preventable when dog owners remain vigilant and properly restrain their dogs.

To ensure mail carriers’ safety, dog owners must securely lock their dog in another room until a delivery is done. If a dog is outside, the dog must be leashed away from the mailbox or doorstep as sometimes packages or certified mail require hand delivery. Make sure that moment doesn’t come with risk of injury.

When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be stopped, not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood if the dog is roaming. When service is stopped, mail must be picked up at the post office. Service will not be restored until the dog is properly restrained and the area is deemed safe by the mail carrier.

With your help, we can keep our carriers, your neighbors and your dogs safe. Thank you for protecting your pet and our carriers as we continue to bring packages and other important correspondence to your door each day.

Anna Rubcic

USPS Postmaster, Chattanooga

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