Over 5,300 USPS mail carriers were attacked by dogs last year. These are the cities where the attacks happen most often.

• The US Postal Service said over 5,300 mail carriers were bit by dogs in the last year.

• The agency released a list of the cities and states with the most attacks, along with prevention tips.

• National Dog Bite Awareness Week is this week, and the USPS is hoping the data helps reduce attacks.

Dogs and mail carriers, a feud as old as time that has been the butt of jokes in the real world and on TV for decades.

The topic has also spawned dozens of articles and lists for pet owners looking to make their dog less hostile to the mail man by addressing the reasons they see the innocent mail carrier as a threat. However, the US Postal Service sees the issue of dogs attacking mail carriers as much more serious than some people may think when tempted to laugh at their dog barking at an approaching mailman.

The agency's annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week kicks off Sunday, and the post office released its annual report to draw attention to the issue. The postal service said over 5,300 mail carriers were attacked in the last year, just under the 5,400 it reported last year.

The Postal Service also published a list of the cities and states where attacks were most common, along with a set of tips for both pet owners and mail carriers on how to keep humans and pets safe at all times.

The top 10 states and cities where dog bites were most common over the last year, according to USPS

"When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable and attack," USPS employee safety and health awareness manager Leeann Theriault said in a statement. "Help us deliver your mail safely by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before your carrier arrives."

The postal service said the theme of this year's awareness week is "even good dogs have bad days," cautioning pet owners that even if their dog is not aggressive on a daily basis, it can be scared or protective of its home and become aggressive very quickly.

Mail carriers are trained on how to handle dogs while working, and are always told not to pet unknown dogs, do anything that will startle a dog, and always assume a dog could bite unexpectedly. They are also trained on how to protect themselves in case a dog suddenly attacks.

"Recently, I was delivering to a customer's mailbox and was nearly bitten by their large aggressive dog," said Swain Lowe, a Virginia mail carrier. "Despite the dog being behind a fence, it still managed to jump over and charge me. Thankfully, I was aware of it and remembered not to run but to turn and use my satchel as a shield to prevent what could have been a terrible bite."

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