According to newly released U.S. Postal Service data, three Texas cities ranked among the nation’s top 10 for dog attacks on mail carriers in 2025, while Texas as a whole ranked second in the country for reported incidents.
Dallas recorded 50 dog attacks involving postal workers last year, trailing only Los Angeles nationwide. Houston, meanwhile, ranked fourth with 44 incidents, while San Antonio landed ninth with 31 reported attacks.
The numbers underscore a persistent trend for Texas mail routes. Houston, in particular, has repeatedly appeared near the top of USPS dog bite rankings in recent years, with the city ranking among the nation’s worst locations for attacks in both 2022 and 2025.
Overall, the Postal Service reported more than 5,200 dog attacks against employees nationwide in 2025. Texas accounted for 358 of those incidents, second only to California’s 673.
The rankings were released as part of the Postal Service’s annual Dog Bite Awareness campaign, which kicked off Monday and encourages pet owners to take precautions during mail delivery.
“Every single day, our postal employees serve their communities across dynamic, fast-changing environments,” Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager, said in a statement. “Preventing dog-related incidents requires constant, shared vigilance.”
The agency stressed that even well-behaved dogs can act unpredictably when protecting their territory or becoming startled by a stranger approaching the home.
USPS recommends keeping dogs secured in a separate room before opening the door for a mail carrier, using leashes when pets are outside and avoiding direct interactions between dogs and carriers during deliveries.
The consequences can be expensive.
“If your dog attacks a postal worker, you could owe thousands of dollars out of pocket to cover their medical care, lost shifts, replacement clothing and emotional distress,” the Postal Service warned.
The agency also highlighted the experience of San Antonio letter carrier Fiona Hudson, who said she was hospitalized after being attacked by a dog that jumped a fence during her route.
“I was rushed to the hospital bleeding, with a broken bone, a severe arm sprain and was barely able to move,” Hudson said in a statement. “While my physical wounds have healed, the trauma of that vicious attack stays with me.”