OKC Can Be Painful Place For Mail Carriers

News9.com

HOUSTON, Texas – Oklahoma City made the list of cities in which mail carriers are most likely to be attacked by a dog.

The U.S. Postal Service released statistics Thursday showing where most dog attacks occur nationwide. In 2010, 5,669 postal employees were bitten by dogs. Houston topped the list with 62 bites. Columbus, Ohio and San Diego tied in second place with 45 dog attacks.

Oklahoma City came in at 23 with 14 dog bites.

The Postal Service released the numbers to recognize National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which lasts from May 15 to May 21. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners' insurance liability claims paid out in 2010. The cost was nearly $413 million.

The Postal Service says if a mail carrier feared for his or her safety because of a loose dog, pet owners could be asked to pick up their mail at a nearby post office.