LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Are dogs really a man's best friend? Most of the time that's the case, but for U.S. Postal Service carriers and Louisville Gas and Electric Company meter readers, dogs are the biggest danger they face on the job.

That's why LG&E and the U.S. Postal Service have partnered to produce and mail a reminder asking all Louisville dog owners to keep their pets properly contained.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 40 seconds a person seeks medical attention as the result of a dog bite, with nearly 60 percent of all dog bites occurring between April and the end of September. Nearly $165 million dollars a year is spent on the treatment of dog bites in the United States, for the estimated 800,000 dog bite-related injuries that require medical care.

"The well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority, and dog bites deeply concern us," said John P. Malloy, Vice-President, Energy Delivery, Retail Business for E.ON U.S.

"Too often our meter readers encounter unrestrained or stray dogs while they are on the job. We conduct regular dog bite prevention training, but LG&E and the U.S. Postal Service are taking the extra step to remind dog owners to help us protect our employees and the public by making sure pets are properly contained at all times."

Steve Gregory, Postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service added: "Although some breeds commonly are labeled as aggressive, it's important to remember that any dog can bite, and even good dogs have bad days. We're proud to partner with LG&E to remind Louisvillians that responsible dog ownership is the key to avoiding attacks."

The dog bite prevention mailer will be sent to all Louisville Metro households in the coming days.

E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world's largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 324,000 natural gas and 398,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 531,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.