SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The U.S. Postal Service released a list of dog attacks on mail carriers in different cities last year, and San Diego had one of the highest numbers in the nation.

San Diego ranked eighth on the list of the top 33 cities, with 32 incidents reported last year. California ranked first among all 50 states for the most dog bite incidents, with 673 last year.

To try and combat dog bite incidents, the mail carrier service has launched a monthlong Dog Bite Awareness campaign in June.

It includes tips like never accepting mail directly from a carrier in the presence of your dog, as it could think the worker is a threat, and securing pets during delivery hours.

Mail carriers are taught to “stand their ground” during a dog attack, using their mail carrier bag as a protective shield or spraying dog repellent, which is provided to all mail carriers.

USPS Letter Carrier Jesus Vela said in an interview with FOX 5/KUSI Tuesday that he has also done safety training to learn how to deal with and prevent dog attacks.

He said he had a close call with two dogs, but was luckily able to utilize his training to prevent a bite.

“About three, four years ago, I was in an incident where I got attacked by two Pitbulls,” Vela said. “They were able to push through the door. As the dogs approached, I yelled, ‘Stop.’ The ‘Stop’ startled the dogs. I was able to use my satchel to protect myself. I used the dog spray.”

He emphasized that it’s important to secure dogs, even if they’re generally friendly.

“A lot of people love dogs,” Vela said. “Just because your dog is nice to you or it’s nice to family members, doesn’t mean he’s going to be nice to everybody else, especially letter carriers,” he said. “Dogs, just as humans, could have bad days, and you never know what kind of day that dog is going to have.”

If a mail carrier deems that a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver mail to because of an unsecured dog, then mail delivery could be suspended for the whole neighborhood. If an issue with a dog is not resolved at a particular house, then the owner could be required to rent a Post Office box to get their mail.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.