Houston tops list of dog attacks on mail carriers

HOUSTON Nationwide last year, 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities, yet that pales in comparison to the 4.7 million Americans bitten annually -- the majority of whom are children.

These statistics are part of the reason the Postal Service recognizes National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 15-21. The annual event provides dog attack prevention tips and information on responsible pet ownership.

Beyond pain and suffering, medical expenses from dog attacks cost the Postal Service nearly $1.2 million last year. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners' insurance liability claims paid out in 2010, costing nearly $413 million.

Rounding out the top 10 rankings for 2010 are:

2 -- Columbus, OH, and San Diego, CA -- 45 each
3 -- Los Angeles, CA -- 44
4 -- Louisville, KY -- 40
5 -- San Antonio, TX, and St. Louis, MO -- 39 each
6 -- Cleveland, OH, and Phoenix, AZ -- 38 each
7 -- Minneapolis, MN, and Portland, OR -- 35 each
8 -- Denver, CO, and Philadelphia, PA -- 31 each
9 -- Sacramento, CA -- 30
10 -- Seattle, WA -- 28