Houston, Columbus and San Diego are the most dangerous cities for letter carriers when it comes to being attacked by dogs, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
In 2010, 62 letter carriers were attacked in Houston. Columbus, Ohio, and San Diego had 45 attacks each.
The District ranked 21st for attacks in the nation with 16 dog attacks or bites. Baltimore ranked No. 11 with 27. Silver Spring ranked No. 25 with 12.
Nationwide 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities. In addition to pain and suffering, dog attacks cost the Postal Service nearly $1.2 million in medical expenses last year.
“We often hear two comments relating to the Postal Service, ‘the check’s in the mail,’ and ‘don’t worry, my dog won’t bite’," said Matthew Lopez, Houston Postmaster. "Given the right circumstances, any dog can bite. Dog attacks are a nationwide issue and not just a postal problem.”
The Postal Service is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Veterinary Medical Association to spread the word that dog attacks are preventable.
For information on the top 25 rankings and how to avoid being bitten, click here.
