What:

The postal team at Torrance Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC) will kick off Dog Bite Awareness month by hosting an engagement activity to discuss helpful dog bite prevention tips and information to share with the community about being responsible pet owners.

The Postal Service invites the media to interview participants and gather b-roll footage of the event.

When:

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

Where:

Torrance S&DC
2510 Monterey Street
Torrance, CA 90503

Who:

Abraham Cooper, District Manager, CA 5
Katiah Gary, Safety Specialist, CA 5
Donald "Coach" Robinson, Employee Development, Trainer
Torrance Management Team
Torrance Letter Carriers

RSVP:

Media inquiries only: RSVP with USPS Strategic Communications Specialist, Natashi Garvins at natashi.l.garvins@usps.gov.

Background:

As part of the USPS 2026 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organization is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of mail carriers. Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees decreased from more than 6,000 cases in 2024 to 5,200 in 2025.

Keep Mail Delivery Safe: Tips for Dog Owners

Even the most predictable pets can act unpredictably when defending territory or feeling startled. Because dogs rely on protective instincts, owners must manage their dogs during delivery times to prevent accidents. Keep your dog in a separate closed room before opening the front door. If you step outside, ensure the door is firmly latched. Always use a leash if your dog is outdoors during mail delivery. Finally, never accept mail directly from a carrier in the presence of your dog, and teach children to avoid doing so, as dogs can misinterpret the interaction as a threat.

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and See the Mail on Your Electronic Device Before It Arrives

By using the free Informed Delivery feature, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. Over 70 million customers have enrolled since the service was launched in 2017. Sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com. This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier might arrive.

The Financial and Emotional Damage of a Dog Attack

Protecting your carrier protects your wallet. 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.

“When a postal employee is attacked by a dog, the mental and physical damage can be irreparable,” says Natashi Garvins, Strategic Communications Specialist. “Placing your beloved furry family member behind closed doors and fences during postal delivery hours helps ensure that our employees return to their families in the same condition they left home in. This is the ultimate goal,” Garvins reminds.

Take Action: Unsecured Dogs Stop Mail Delivery

In 2025, postal mail carriers experienced eight (8) dog bites in the local Torrance community. When a carrier feels unsafe because of a roaming dog, mail service can be temporarily suspended.

Until the carrier feels safe enough to restart delivery, the mail will have to be picked up at the dog owner’s local Post Office.

If a carrier feels a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver to and there is no way to inform residents their mail service has been suspended, the residents will have to contact the supervisor at their local Post Office for more information. The residents would also have to pick up their mail at the Post Office until it is safe to resume delivery.

If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office Box to receive mail.

Armed with Awareness: How Carriers Prevent Dog Bites

Postal carriers undergo extensive safety training to spot potential canine hazards. Carriers are instructed to remain vigilant and exercise the precautions below:

• Announce entry. Rattle a fence gate or make a non-threatening sound before walking into a yard.
• Maintain visual contact. Never startle an animal and always keep eyes locked on the dog.
• Assume dog poses risk Avoid petting or feeding any animal on the assumption that any dog has the potential to bite.
• Block exits. Secure outward-swinging doors with a foot to prevent a pet from escaping.

If a dog attacks, carriers are trained to stand their ground, use their mail satchel as a protective shield and deploy dog repellent if necessary. To stay ahead of these risks, USPS also provides carriers with awareness tools, including handheld scanners that feature built-in dog warning alerts and physical warning cards that are placed into mail sorting cases to alert a carrier of a dog at a certain address.

"Protecting children, postal workers, and our communities begins with comprehensive training, secure leashing practices, and ongoing education to prevent dog-related injuries. Together, these measures create safer neighborhoods and ensure everyone can live and work without fear," said Abraham Cooper, District Manager.

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