Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

2013 dog-bite stats include 5,581 postal carriers, 13 in Las Vegas

23rd Annual Police K-9 Trials

Steve Marcus

Taz, a police dog from the West Valley City (Utah) Police Department, jumps over a barrier after being distracted by a photographer during 23rd Annual Police K-9 Trials at the Orleans Arena Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. Sixty teams from across the country participated in the trials. The event was sponsored by Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9’s and hosted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. ( I was rescued by Metro Officers that were wearing special bite suits and they moved in quickly to protect me.)

LOS ANGELES — About 4.5 million Americans were bitten by dogs in the United States last year, including over 2 million children and 5,581 U.S. Postal Service workers, authorities announced Thursday in an effort to promote dog-bite prevention.

Houston ranked worst in the nation for dog attacks on letter carriers – 63 attacks in 2013 – pushing Los Angeles, last year's leader, to second place with 61 attacks over the same period.

Other cities in which dogs had a propensity for attacks on letter carriers were Cleveland (58), San Diego (53) and Chicago (47).

There were 13 dog attacks on letter carriers reported in Las Vegas, which tied Nevada’s largest for No. 28 on the list with Fort Wayne, Ind., New Orleans, Van Nuys, Calif., and Dayton, Ohio.

Sixty-two cities are in the top 30 because of ties. Seven cities came in 30th with 11 bites each.

Here are additional numbers and ways to prevent or avoid dog attacks.

All dogs can bite

People may tell you their dog doesn't bite. Don't buy it. Dog experts say any dog can bite.

Where children are bitten

The American Humane Association says two-thirds of child victims are bitten in the head or neck.

How to prevent bites

— If you get mail at the front door, put the dog in a separate room and close the door. Screen doors and glass windows are no barrier when a dog really wants to get to a stranger.

— Kids need to know not to let the dog out. And don't let the dog see the kids taking mail from a carrier. The dog might consider this a threat.

— If a carrier feels uncomfortable with a dog running loose, the dog's owner may have to go to the post office for mail. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, everyone on the block may have to go to the post office.

— Never leave a dog, even the most trusted family pet, alone with a small child.

— Always ask permission before touching or playing with a dog you don't know.

Bite-fixing numbers

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says there were 26,935 reconstructive procedures in 2013 to repair injuries from dog bites.

Bite-paying numbers

The Insurance Information Institute estimates insurers across the country paid out $483 million in dog-bite claims. State Farm paid out $104 million for 3,700 claims. Californians filed 449 claims and were paid $14.7 million; Illinois filed 309 for $8.9 million; Ohio, 221 claims for $4.2 million; Texas, 207 claims for $4 million; and Pennsylvania, 180 claims for $5.8 million.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy