What:

A media opportunity to experience the challenges of a carrier who walks the Los Angeles city streets to deliver an essential service every day in the city #1 in dog bites/incidents in the state of California and in the nation.

This year’s USPS National Dog Bite Awareness month theme is: “Don’t turn your back on dog bite prevention.”

Heavy dog route; walking shoes suggested.

Who:

Letter Carrier, Crystal Valdovinos, U.S. Postal Service
Safety Specialist, Shelle Smith, U.S. Postal Service

When:

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:30 a.m.

Where:

Cross streets: 109th block of Lou Dillon Avenue and Santa Ana Blvd
(address provided upon rsvp)

Please RSVP to natashi.l.garvins@usps.gov to coordinate interview.

Background:

A monthlong Dog Bite Awareness campaign began Monday, June 1, with the theme of “Don’t turn your back on dog bite prevention.” Last year, U.S. Postal Service employees suffered more than 5,200 dog attacks, carriers in Los Angeles experienced 70 incidents, the highest number of any city in the nation.

To combat this, USPS is sharing vital safety guidance to help pet owners protect mail carriers and ensure uninterrupted mail delivery.

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.

While delivering in South Central, Los Angeles mail carrier Crystal Valdovinos recalls an incident where a customer’s gate was left open, their dog got out and tried to attack her. She screamed and yelled at the dog, “Get back—hurry up—get inside!” She had her dog spray and satchel ready, which deterred the dog from biting her and she managed to get the dog back in the gate and then closed it.

Take Action: Unsecured Dogs Stop Mail Delivery

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.

“As June is ‘Dog Bite Awareness Month’, we want to remind the public that safety is a shared responsibility. Los Angeles unfortunately recorded the highest number of reported dog bites in the nation, with 70 incidents involving postal employees last year. We encourage all pet owners to help protect their mail carriers by securing their dogs during mail delivery. Even the friendliest dogs can react unexpectedly, and one simple precaution can help prevent dog bite injuries," said Marci Luna, Los Angeles city (CA 5), Postmaster.

# # #