NEW YORK — New York state ranks fifth in the nation for dog bite incidents. Last year, 322 dog bites were reported in New York. The Postal Service is taking the month of June to spread awareness and get that number down to zero.

On Long Island (in 2024) there were 83 dog bites reported by letter carriers with the top three areas being Hempstead, Bay Shore and Amityville – each experiencing four dog bite incidents.

Nassau County letter carriers had 43 dog bite incidents, while Suffolk County letter carriers had 40.

Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 6,000 cases last year. As part of the 2025 USPS 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 its employees.

Letter Carrier Diane Villatoro has 23 years of service in Hicksville. “This is where I started and this is where I will retire,” said Villatoro. Fifteen years ago, Villatoro was bit by a dog on her route and it’s an experience she has not forgotten.

“I was delivering mail and unfortunately, it was a situation that was out of my control. It was a stray dog with no collar or leash,” said Villatoro. “I was on Acre Lane in Hicksville, and I was putting mail into one of the mailboxes of a house on my route when I felt a presence behind me,” she recalled.  

“I tried to turn slowly and move my hand to reach for my bag and the dog spray. As I reached for my bag, the dog snapped at me and grabbed a hold of my hand. With my other free hand, I started knocking on the door of the house I was delivering to. Thankfully, the customer came out and scared the dog away. He had my hand in his mouth that whole time - a good eight seconds,” she recalls.  

Villatoro has 526 deliveries on her route, and she sees around 30 dogs each day.

Her advice to customers is simple. “Always walk your dog on a leash and try to keep the dogs inside when you know your letter carrier is coming. We just want safety. The Postal Service believes in safety for all employees. We want to have a good bond with our customers, but we don’t want to work in fear. We like to go home safe,” she said.

Villatoro has been an on-the-job-instructor (OJI) for 13 years and teaches new hires to avoid bites. “I teach them to stay alert and that any dog can have a bad day. Any dog can bite,” she said.  

Other hazards Villatoro said she encounter are bees, uneven sidewalks, and broken steps.

Even with all the hazards, Villatoro loves the job.

“The best thing that happened to me was the day I got hired,” she said. “I have great supervisors and a great postmaster. They are my second family. We support each other and have each other’s back.”

Villatoro grew up in Franklin Square and has been there since 1971.

When Villatoro is not at work she is spending time with her kids and grandkids. “Family is everything to me,” she said. 

Total for Suffolk County is 40 dog bite incidents.
Total for Nassau County is 43 dog bite incidents.

Dog Owners Can Help with Safe Mail Delivery

Many of us are dog lovers, but few of us are dog experts. Even dogs that have never shown signs of aggression can react in ways their owners don’t expect. They can act without warning on their instinct to protect their owners and their owners’ property. Dogs may attack not only to defend their territory, but also when they feel startled, anxious or unwell. It’s not just about bad or aggressive dogs — it’s about unpredictable moments.

Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions.

Keep your dog in a separate room or area away from the door when the mail carrier comes to your house. If you go outside, close the door firmly behind you and make sure it is secured so your dog doesn’t slip out or bust through it unexpectedly. If you are outside with your dog while mail is being delivered, make sure your dog is secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash. Never accept the mail from your mail carrier in the presence of your dog.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier because the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child.

The Cost of a Dog Attack

When a postal employee suffers an injury from a dog attack, it can cost the dog owner thousands of dollars because they could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee.

“Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others, however, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be considered a threat when delivering the mail,” said Jonah Helfrich, a Blue Bell, PA, letter carrier. “I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment. I strongly encourage all dog owners to take precautions to make sure their dog is secure when mail is being delivered.”

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