Houston Leads the Country in Postal Worker Dog Attacks

Postal workers have difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs. Walking onto properties to deliver mail and packages can come with unexpected occupational hazards such as animal attacks. Houston, Texas is statistically the worst city in the country for postal worker dog attacks, according to a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) national ranking. In 2018, 5,714 total postal workers experienced dog attacks throughout the U.S. Seventy-five (75) of these incidents occurred in Houston, Texas alone.

Houston has consistently topped the USPS’s list of cities with frequent postal worker dog attacks. In 2018, Houston came in first place with 75 attacks, outnumbering Los Angeles by 15 incidents. A map of each incident shows Texas and California as the most dangerous states for USPS worker dog attacks, with hotspots around metropolitan areas such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Dozens of neighborhoods in Houston, Texas reported postal worker dog attacks in 2018.

Other cities in the U.S. that reported the highest numbers of postal worker dog attacks included Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, and Minneapolis. All around, four cities in Texas made the list of top 29 most dangerous cities for USPS workers. Many of the 75 dog attacks affecting postal workers in Houston in 2018 caused serious injuries that required visits to emergency rooms. The USPS releases dog bite data each year during National Dog Bite Prevention Week in the hope of spreading awareness of this issue.

Dogs attacking postal workers is such a significant issue because of the potential severity of an attack. When a dog attacks, its teeth and claws can cause significant damage to the victim. Dog attack wounds could be fatal, especially for children and the elderly. An attacked postal service worker could suffer serious and life-altering injuries.

Many postal workers end up in hospitals due to dog attacks. Some have to stay there for days or weeks while they receive treatments such as IV fluids and wound care. In severe cases, the victim may need stitches, surgeries or rabies shots. Some ramifications from dog attacks will last forever, inflicting permanent physical and emotional scars on the victim.

Unlike most states, Texas does not have a specific dog bite statute to handle cases involving attacks. Instead, the courts rule on a case-by-case basis. In the past, the Texas courts have primarily used a negligence, or one-bite, rule in deciding dog bite cases. This rule states that a dog owner will only be liable for a dog attack if the owner knew or reasonably should have known of the dog’s propensity to bite, yet failed to prevent the attack. According to the Texas Supreme Court, an owner will also be liable if he or she fails to stop an ongoing attack.

To have a case against a pet owner, an injured postal worker must prove that the owner knew or should have known the dog might attack but negligently failed to prevent it from occurring. Preventing an attack could involve keeping the dog inside, within a fenced area or on a leash. If the owner did not take reasonable measures to protect the postal worker from a foreseeable dog attack, the pet owner could be liable for damages.

Liability for a dog attack could mean the owner has a financial obligation to pay for the victim’s medical expenses (past and future), surgeries, medications and property damage repairs. A victim could also recover damages such as pain and suffering, lost wages, and punitive damages. An individual’s homeowners insurance will cover settlements and verdicts related to dog attacks in most cases.

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