{"id":7555,"date":"2014-05-14T16:01:48","date_gmt":"2014-05-14T21:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=7555"},"modified":"2014-05-14T16:08:10","modified_gmt":"2014-05-14T21:08:10","slug":"usps-releases-top-dog-attack-city-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2014\/05\/14\/usps-releases-top-dog-attack-city-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"USPS Releases Top Dog Attack City Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 14, 2014<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014 As a prelude to a news conference tomorrow to kick-off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, the U.S. Postal Service released its top 30 dog attack city rankings and offered tips to reduce dog attacks to letter carriers. Nationwide, 5,581 postal employees were attacked last year.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow\u2019s 10:30 a.m. ET, event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, will include letter carriers recounting their dog attacks and feature pit bull therapy dog\u00a0<\/span>Elle<\/a><\/em>, the\u00a0<\/span>American Humane Association\u2019s 2013 Hero Dog of the Year.<\/a><\/em>Veterinarians and representatives of the medical community will provide tips on dog attack prevention and responsible pet ownership. Representatives from the insurance industry will discuss dog bite claims and homeowner liability. Internationally-renowned dog trainer, author, and television personality\u00a0<\/span>Victoria Stilwell<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Kelly Voigt<\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>a dog attack victim, will join Elle and her handler Leah Brewer in a dog safety demonstration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a myth we often hear at the Postal Service,\u201d said Postal Service Manager of Safety Linda DeCarlo. \u201cDon\u2019t worry \u2014 my dog won\u2019t bite. 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.\u201d \"dog-attacks\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nationwide, 5,581 postal employees were attacked last year. Yet of the 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs annually \u2014 half are children \u2014 according to the\u00a0<\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/em><\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>The U.S. Postal Service, the medical community, veterinarians and the insurance industry are working together to educate the public that dog bites are avoidable by declaring May 18-24 as National Dog Bite Prevention Week.<\/p>\n

DeCarlo encourages the news media to share the following tips when reporting on this critical issue.<\/p>\n