U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mailboxes stand in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, May 9, 2013. The USPS is projecting a loss of as much as a $6 billion for the year as it keeps pressure on Congress for help, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said this month. The service is scheduled to release second-quarter results May 10. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

SAN JOSE (KCBS)— When it comes to dog attacks on mail carriers, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose are listed among the top 30 cities in the country according to the U.S. Postal Service.

San Francisco ranked 28th in the nation with 22 attacks last year. Oakland was 29th with 21 and San Jose tied Pittsburgh at number 30 with 20 incidents, according to numbers released by the United States Postal Service.

Postal service spokesman Gus Ruiz says it boils down to dog owners taking more responsibility for their pets and the safety of others and that mail carriers who have been bitten, work in fear of another attack.

“Our Bay Valley district as a whole has experienced 56 dog bites, 20 in San Jose, 21 in Oakland, 15 in Richmond. Now by comparison, last year [San Jose] had a total of 20. Right now, the year’s not even half way over and we’ve already experienced 17,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said Chihuahuas can be among the worst offenders with their small, unnoticeable stature and silent sneak-attack style.

“Believe it or not, it’s these little dogs, these little Chihuahuas that nip you at the ankle and you don’t even see them coming. A lot of times when the home owner opens the door, the dog charges through.”

Los Angeles easily lead the nation in attacks reported with 74.