Australia Post says postal workers have reported more than 1,200 dog-related incidents in the first half of 2026, averaging about nine a day. The company says the figure is up 5% on the same period last year and is urging dog owners to secure pets during deliveries.
Australia Post says postal workers have reported more than 1,200 dog-related incidents in the first half of 2026, averaging about nine a day, as it renews warnings to pet owners and councils.
The company says the total is up 5% on the same period last year, with New South Wales recording the most incidents at 400. Queensland had 273 and Victoria 200.
Australia Post says some posties have suffered bites, puncture wounds and, in some cases, have been knocked off their vehicles.
Safety warning
Australia Post general manager of safety Russell Munro said posties encounter multiple dogs every day and cannot predict how a dog will react, regardless of breed or temperament.
He said most incidents happen because dogs are not properly secured during deliveries.
The company says posties have been equipped with citronella spray as a last-line safety measure and says it has worked in most incidents.
What happens next
Australia Post says it will continue working with local councils and state governments on animal-management laws.
The latest figures add to a long-running concern for postal workers, who regularly deliver to homes where dogs may be loose in yards or streets. The practical message from Australia Post is unchanged: keep dogs secured during deliveries.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.