Dogs in Massachusetts bit letter carriers 116 times in 2023

Note to aspiring letter carriers: Watch out for dogs while on the job.

Dogs in Massachusetts bit U.S. Postal Service employees 116 times in 2023, about 2% of the more than 5,800 dog bites reported nationally last year.

Springfield, the third-largest city in the state, saw five incidents in which a dog bit a U.S. postal worker last year — the highest total of all municipalities in the state, according to the U.S. Postal Service. In Woburn, there were four such incidents, while there were three dog bite situations apiece in Beverly, Milton, Shrewsbury and Webster.

Twenty other communities counted two bites and another 55 municipalities each had one, U.S. Postal Service officials said. On Sunday, the government agency begins its 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign.

When a postal employee sustains an injury by a dog bite, the dog owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee, the U.S. Postal Service said. The agency also noted that the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555.

The agency's letter carriers are trained to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory, as well as to never startle a dog. They are told to make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog when entering a yard, to never attempt to pet or feed a dog, and to place a foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.

If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something, like their mail bag, between them and the dog, and to use dog repellent if necessary.

"Even though a customer’s dog is friendly to most people, it can always have a bad day," letter carrier Tara Snyder said. "I know, from experience, even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier."