You’ve probably walked past one without giving it a second thought — a small yellow or orange paw print sticker stuck to the side of a neighbor’s mailbox. It looks almost decorative, like something a dog lover put there as a personal touch. But that little sticker is anything but random. It’s part of a nationwide safety program, and it’s there for a very specific and important reason.
Here’s the full story behind what those paw print stickers mean, why you should never remove one, and what dog owners need to know.
The USPS PAWS Program Explained
In 2020, the United States Postal Service launched what became known as the PAWS Program — a color-coded sticker system designed to protect mail carriers from unexpected dog encounters during their daily routes.
The concept is simple but effective. Postal workers place small paw print stickers on the mailboxes of homes where a dog is known to be present. The color of the sticker tells the carrier exactly where the dog is:
🟡 Yellow paw print sticker — a dog lives at the next address on the delivery route
🟠 Orange paw print sticker — a dog lives at that specific address
The goal is to give carriers a clear, instant visual warning before they approach a property — especially when they need to bring a package to the front door rather than simply dropping mail in the box.
Why This Program Was Necessary
Dog bites are one of the most serious and persistent occupational hazards for mail carriers. The USPS has been tracking dog-related injuries for decades, and the numbers are significant. In 2019 alone, there were more than 5,800 reported dog attacks on postal workers across the United States. Cities like Cleveland, Ohio ranked among the top ten most dangerous in the country for mail carriers, logging 43 dog bite incidents in a single year.
And the injuries aren’t minor. One veteran mail carrier described being approached by a 70-pound dog that launched through a door as she requested a signature — leaving her with a severely lacerated hand that required 17 stitches, a tetanus shot, a course of antibiotics, and three weeks away from work to recover. Incidents like this happen to postal workers across the country every single week.
The danger is compounded by an important reality that experienced mail carriers understand well: even a dog that has been friendly for years can have a bad day. Even the most gentle, familiar dog can react unpredictably to a uniform, a bag, or a specific movement — and that unpredictability is what makes every delivery to a home with a dog a potential risk.
How Residents Are Notified
Homeowners don’t wake up one morning to find a sticker on their mailbox without warning. The USPS notifies residents in advance by sending a postcard or card explaining the program and letting them know that a paw print sticker may be placed on their mailbox if a dog is known to live at or near their address.
The notification gives residents the opportunity to be aware of the program, understand what the sticker means, and — if they strongly object — contact their local post office to discuss it. In most cases, however, residents have found the program reasonable and have left the stickers in place.
Why You Should Never Remove the Sticker
