Detroit ranks on Postal Service list of top dog bite cities

Detroit is on the U.S. Postal Service's recent national ranking of cities with the most recorded dog attacks on mail carriers.

The big picture: The city has a serious stray dog problem — animal control received nearly 12,000 calls about roaming dogs last year. Pet dogs getting out of their enclosures has also resulted in attacks.

By the numbers: With 19 such attacks, Detroit tied for 20th place last year. The city with the highest number, Los Angeles, recorded 65 attacks.

• Michigan was also ranked in the top 10 states with the most mail carrier dog bites, with 183 last year.

Between the lines: All dogs can bite, even ones that seem friendly, so dog owners have a responsibility to control and secure their pets around letter carriers, USPS wrote in a news release.

• If a carrier doesn't feel safe, they have the right to stop service and have the dog owner pick up their mail at the post office.