NEW JERSEY — Dog attacks on U.S. Postal Service employees exceeded 6,000 nationwide last year, prompting the USPS to launch its 2025 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, which begins June 1. The campaign urges dog owners to secure their pets during mail delivery to protect both the animals and postal workers.
The 2025 campaign, themed “Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track,” encourages pet owners to keep dogs restrained while carriers deliver mail. USPS employee safety manager Leeann Theriault said, “Dog bite attacks on postal employees are preventable. The most important message for our customers is to keep your dog secured and away from the carrier as the mail is being delivered.”
The USPS recommends keeping dogs in a separate room or securely leashed, closing doors firmly, and ensuring children do not take mail directly from carriers when dogs are present. Customers can also sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, a free digital preview service that helps anticipate mail delivery times.
Injuries from dog attacks can result in costly medical bills and other expenses for dog owners. Postal workers receive training to safely deliver mail around dogs, including alerting dogs without startling them and using dog repellent if necessary. If a carrier feels unsafe, mail delivery can be suspended until conditions improve.
In New Jersey, the state ranked 11th nationally for dog bites in 2024, with 166 reported cases. The cities with the highest numbers of dog bites included Union (9), Caldwell (5), Camden (5), Egg Harbor Township (5), and Woodbury (4).
The full list of bites by city can be found below:
|
City & State |
# of DOG BITE/DOG |
|
UNION, New Jersey |
9 |
|
CALDWELL, New Jersey |
5 |
|
CAMDEN, New Jersey |
5 |
|
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, New Jersey |
5 |
|
WOODBURY, New Jersey |
4 |
|
BELLEVILLE, New Jersey |
3 |
|
PARSIPPANY, New Jersey |
3 |
|
DOVER, New Jersey |
3 |
|
MILLVILLE, New Jersey |
3 |
|
SUMMIT, New Jersey |
3 |
|
PATERSON, New Jersey |
3 |
|
TOMS RIVER, New Jersey |
3 |
|
VINELAND, New Jersey |
3 |
|
BAYONNE, New Jersey |
3 |
|
TRENTON, New Jersey |
3 |
|
ENGLEWOOD, New Jersey |
3 |
|
WILLINGBORO, New Jersey |
3 |
|
METUCHEN, New Jersey |
3 |
|
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey |
2 |
|
ROCHELLE PARK, New Jersey |
2 |
|
BRICK, New Jersey |
2 |
|
EDISON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
HAMMONTON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
BRIDGETON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
MADISON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
MORRIS PLAINS, New Jersey |
2 |
|
RED BANK, New Jersey |
2 |
|
MOUNT LAUREL, New Jersey |
2 |
|
SCOTCH PLAINS, New Jersey |
2 |
|
PARLIN, New Jersey |
2 |
|
HILLSBOROUGH, New Jersey |
2 |
|
ELIZABETH, New Jersey |
2 |
|
LIVINGSTON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
CLEMENTON, New Jersey |
2 |
|
WESTFIELD, New Jersey |
2 |
|
PHILLIPSBURG, New Jersey |
2 |
|
PLAINFIELD, New Jersey |
2 |
|
MONTCLAIR, New Jersey |
2 |
|
PRINCETON, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ISELIN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SOUTH HACKENSACK, New Jersey |
1 |
|
Beach Haven, New Jersey |
1 |
|
WILLIAMSTOWN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MARGATE CITY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
CHERRY HILL, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MATAWAN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
HIGHTSTOWN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MENDHAM, New Jersey |
1 |
|
VOORHEES, New Jersey |
1 |
|
CAPE MAY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
FORDS, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MIDDLESEX, New Jersey |
1 |
|
FREEHOLD, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MIDLAND PARK, New Jersey |
1 |
|
HAWTHORNE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
CARTERET, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SPRING LAKE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ELMER, New Jersey |
1 |
|
BAYVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
DENVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MOORESTOWN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
WAYNE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ELMWOOD PARK, New Jersey |
1 |
|
WOOD RIDGE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MORRISTOWN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
POMPTON LAKES, New Jersey |
1 |
|
CHATHAM, New Jersey |
1 |
|
RAHWAY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
NEPTUNE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
RIVERTON, New Jersey |
1 |
|
NEWARK, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SAYREVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SEWELL, New Jersey |
1 |
|
OAK RIDGE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
STEWARTSVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ORANGE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
SWEDESBORO, New Jersey |
1 |
|
PARAMUS, New Jersey |
1 |
|
TOTOWA, New Jersey |
1 |
|
ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey |
1 |
|
TUCKERTON, New Jersey |
1 |
|
FANWOOD, New Jersey |
1 |
|
KENILWORTH, New Jersey |
1 |
|
FLEMINGTON, New Jersey |
1 |
|
WASHINGTON, New Jersey |
1 |
|
PENNSVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
|
BLOOMFIELD, New Jersey |
1 |
|
PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
LONG BRANCH, New Jersey |
1 |
|
FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey |
1 |
|
LONG VALLEY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey |
1 |
|
MONTVILLE, New Jersey |
1 |
