Postal Service names Indy among cities with most dog attacks
INDIANAPOLIS (MEDIA GENERAL) – The U.S. Postal Service released its top 30 dog attack city rankings in advance of National Dog Bite Prevention Week next week. Across the country, 5,767 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year.
“There’s a myth we often hear at the Postal Service: Don’t worry, my dog won’t bite,” said Postal Service Manager of Safety Linda DeCarlo. “Dog attacks are a nationwide issue and not just a postal problem. Any dog can bite and all attacks are preventable through responsible pet ownership.”
Big cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas all make the top five list from 2014. Others include:
1. Los Angeles – 74 attacks
2. Houston – 62 attacks
3. San Diego – 47 attacks
4. Chicago – 45 attacks
5. Dallas – 43 attacks
11. Portland – 30 attacks
14. Indianapolis – 27 attacks
15. Wichita – 25 attacks
18. San Francisco / Columbus, Ohio – 22 attacks
22. Dayton, Ohio – 18 attacks
23. Richmond, VA – 17 attacks
24. Albuquerque – 16 attacks
25. Buffalo, NY – 14 attacks
27. Memphis / Austin – 13 attacks
28. Norfolk, VA / Arlington, VA – 12 attacks
29. Raleigh, NC – 11 attacks
30. Birmingham, AL – 10 attacks
The Postal Service promoted tips to prevent dog bites:
- If a letter carrier has to deliver to your door, put your dog in another room and close the door before opening your front door.
- Remind your children about the need to keep your dog secured. Also, don’t let your children take mail directly from a carrier, the dog may view that as a threat to the child.
The Postal Service says if it feels a dog is threatening, it may ask the owner to pick up his or her mail at the Post Office.
You can find the full list of cities here.