LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The U.S. Postal Service is reminding pet owners to secure their animals during delivery hours as June marks Dog Bite Awareness Month.
A mail carrier was bitten in Lexington two weeks ago. The incident highlights ongoing risks mail carriers face as warmer weather brings more pets outdoors.
According to Susan Wright, Kentucky spokesperson for the United States Postal Service, there were over 5,000 reported cases of dog bites involving mail carriers in the United States in 2025. Of those, 72 were in Kentucky and six in Lexington.
“The number one request that we have for our customers is to please secure your pets during delivery hours,” Wright said.
Wright said the numbers help tell the story of the risks mail carriers face.
“We want them to be able to do their job safely and interact with their customers and not be concerned with being attacked while out on their routes,” Wright said.
Safety tips for pet owners
The Postal Service offers these tips for keeping postal workers safe:
- Secure your dog before your mailman arrives
- Place your pet in a room away from the door
- If you are outside with your dog, have it secured on a leash away from the postal worker
The United States Postal Service says it currently asks workers to stay vigilant and to make some sort of noise before approaching a yard where a dog may be.
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