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Letter Carrier Attacked by Pit Bull in West Virginia

Letter Carrier Released from Hospital After Pit Bull Attack
Parkersburg, WV - A letter carrier attacked by a pit bull Thursday was treated and released from a local hospital, authorities said. Shelly Batton, 27, was mauled by the male pit bull while delivering mail in the 1700 block of Beaver Street, according to a report by the Parkersburg Police Department.

Batton received several lacerations to her arms and legs from the attack and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. A hospital spokesman said Batton was treated for the injuries and released. The owners of the male pit bull were not home at the time of the incident. The identity of the owners was unavailable.

Parkersburg Postmaster Ray Church said that dog bites are the number one accident in the postal service. It just goes to show the importance customers need to take as far as their dogs are concerned, he said. He added that it is not unusual for people to be bitten by dogs and that pit bulls can be an aggressive breed.

Last December, a 2-year-old Vincent girl was attacked by a 9-month-old pit bull at a friend’s home. The girl received 57 stitches to her face, but did not need reconstructive surgery. The dog was shot by its owner. The CDC says that 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Fatal attacks by pit bulls and rottweilers were the most common.