Dog bites aren’t random. They cluster in specific locations, times, and daily routines—and understanding those patterns is key to prevention. A nationwide study by The Texas Law Dog highlights how urban density, seasonality, and demographics shape risk, with the U.S. averaging 4.5 million bites each year and around 1,000 people a day requiring emergency care.
National Prevalence and Who Gets Hurt
- Scale: 4.5 million bites annually; 850,000 require medical attention; 370,000 lead to ER visits.
- Demographics: The average victim is 28.9 years old, and men account for just over half of cases (52.6%).
Postal Workers as a Risk Indicator
Postal data serves as a reliable measure of bite incidents. In 2023:
- Top cities: Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago led postal worker attacks, followed by St. Louis, Cleveland, San Diego, Dallas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Columbus.
- Top states: California (727 attacks) and Texas (411) recorded the highest numbers, followed by Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, and Missouri.
Urban density and heavy delivery volumes create more encounters at gates, stoops, and mail slots—common flashpoints for defensive dog behavior.
Children Bear the Greatest Burden
Children make up about 70% of bite victims, and their smaller size means injuries are often more severe.
- Age group most affected: 5–9 years old
- Fatalities: Around 16 annually
- Psychological toll: Over half of child victims develop PTSD; pediatricians report rising dog-related phobias
The pandemic increased pediatric bites, reflecting more time spent at home and closer child-dog interactions.
Where and When Bites Occur
- Setting: 80.2% of bites happen at home
- Seasonality: Incidents spike in summer and on weekends
- Nature: Most are unintentional, involving familiar dogs in familiar settings
Breeds, Bite Force, and Context
Although any dog can bite, fatalities are concentrated among a few breeds:
- Pit bulls: 65.6% of fatal incidents
- Rottweilers: 10.4%
- Bite force: The Kangal ranks highest at a cited 743 PSI
However, context matters. Most bites involve family dogs, underscoring the importance of training, socialization, and supervision over breed-specific risk.
Prevention for Families and Communities
- Secure entry points: Install self-closing gates and exterior mailboxes
- Training and socialization: Start early and continue throughout a dog’s life
- Supervision: Keep pets leashed or indoors during deliveries
- Child education: Teach children not to approach tethered or feeding dogs
- Routine and exercise: Reduce stress and reactivity through daily activity
Cities with dense housing and high delivery volumes benefit most from coordinated education across HOAs, schools, and delivery services. Small changes—like keeping dogs in another room during delivery hours—can have big impacts.
Why the Data Matters
Postal carriers may be the most visible victims, but their experiences reflect a wider reality: urban living creates frequent human-animal encounters, and without safeguards, these interactions can escalate.
Understanding where and when dog bites happen gives communities the tools to reduce risk—and with millions of annual incidents, the stakes are high.
This article draws on nationwide research and analysis conducted by The Texas Law Dog.
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