Dublin records highest number of dog attacks on An Post staff in 2026

Dublin has registered the most incidents of pet attacks on An Post workers this year, with 47 cases resulting in 101 lost working days, An Post said.

The postal service reported a total of 118 attacks across Ireland so far in 2026, a 19 % rise on the 99 incidents recorded in the same period in 2025. Cork, Kildare, Limerick and Meath complete the top five counties for such incidents.

Four counties – Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath and Cavan – reported no attacks.

Noel Lacey, Head of Group Safety for An Post, told Newstalk Breakfast that staff are empowered to refuse a delivery if they feel unsafe. He noted that most injuries involve dogs, which account for the high 90 % of animal‑related incidents, while other wildlife such as pigeons, seagulls, bees, wasps, spiders and occasional cat scratches cause less serious harm.

Lacey said some postmen and women carry treats for dogs, but warned that a friendly dog one day can become aggressive the next. He confirmed that measures are in place to support colleagues who suffer significant injuries, including stitches or hospitalisation.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: Lauren Boswell / Pexels.