WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Postal Service released data showing more than 5,200 dog attacks on postal workers nationwide over the past year as part of Dog Bite Awareness Month. The agency also issued safety guidance urging dog owners to secure their pets before mail delivery.

Los Angeles recorded the highest number of incidents among U.S. cities with 70 reported attacks. Dallas reported 50 incidents, followed by Denver with 45, Houston with 44, and Chicago with 43.

At the state level, California led with 673 reported dog attacks on postal workers. Texas reported 358 incidents, Ohio 287, New York 269, Pennsylvania 267, and Illinois 260.

USPS recommends that dog owners keep pets in a separate, closed room before opening the door for mail delivery and ensure doors are fully shut when stepping outside during delivery. The agency also advises keeping dogs on a leash during delivery hours and cautions against accepting mail directly from a carrier in a dog’s presence.

“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments,” Leeann Theriault, employee safety and health awareness manager, said in a news release. “Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance. This campaign reinforces a vital truth: Animal behaviors can change in an instant, but proactive awareness from both our carriers and the customers we serve can stop painful injuries before they ever happen.”

“I was walking my route when a dog jumped the fence and lunged at me,” San Antonio Letter Carrier Fiona Hudson said in a statement. “I used my dog repellent and mail bag to defend myself, but it was too late. I was rushed to the hospital bleeding, with a broken bone, a severe arm sprain and was barely able to move. While my physical wounds have healed, the trauma of that vicious attack stays with me. Customers must take responsibility and secure their dogs during delivery hours.”