California has the distinction of having three different cities in the top ten of US Postal Service Dog Attacks/Bites in 2010.
California seems to be leading the pack when it comes to postal carrier dog bite incidents. Just take a gander:
- #2 is San Diego (45 incidents),
- #3 is Los Angeles (44 incidents)
- #9 is Sacramento (30 incidents)
but also in the top 25 are San Jose, Oakland, Long Beach, Stockton, Huntington Beach, Fresno, and Santa Ana.
The Postal Service released statistics that highlight the cities where the most dog attacks occur nationwide. You can see the entire US Postal Service Dog Incident list here.
In 2010, an astounding 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities across the nation. Many think that those figures are low numbers in comparison to the 4.7 million Americans who are bitten annually and whose bites get reported. It is unknown how many are under the radar. Plus, the majority of dog bite incidents involve children.
These statistics are part of the reason the Postal Service recognizes National Dog Bite Prevention Week since the annual event provides dog attack prevention tips and information on responsible pet ownership. It also attracts the cooperation of a variety of different agencies and organizations.
Medical expenses from dog attacks cost the Postal Service nearly $1.2 million in 2010. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims paid out last year, costing nearly $413 million.
My last post had some valuable resources but I also encourage you to also check out:
- USPS Dog Bite Awareness
- American Academy of Pediatrics Dog Bite Prevention Brochure
- AVMA Dog Bite Prevention
- Blue Dog Parent Guide & CD
- Prevent the Bite
- CDC Dog Bite Prevention
Photo Credit: Clint
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