Royal Mail is running its sixth Dog Awareness week, and is appealing to dog owners to realise the impact of dog attacks on postmen and women who are only doing their job. While dogs are not inherently dangerous, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels it or its territory is being threatened, the postal service provider points out.
Simple advice includes:
Keeping dogs away from the letterbox;
Not opening the front door with your dog not under close control; and
Not allowing dogs to roam around the garden. Visit www.royalmailgroup.com/dogs.
Last year, an attack on a postman in Paisley, Scotland, meant he was unable to work for three months. The owner was later prosecuted in the courts. Alan Quinn a postman for ten years, was delivering to a house with a German Shepherd when he was attacked and bitten on his arm, which required hospital treatment and physiotherapy.
He said: “I had been delivering there for over ten years and the dog was never a problem but on this day, it got out and jumped on me at the external postbox and bit and tore into my arm and I was screaming for help covered in blood. The owner then took me to hospital. I never for a moment expected it. I’m not on the route anymore but I am very wary of dogs now – more than before. I’d just ask customers, please keep your dog away from the door, don’t have your dog loose in the garden when we are all on our rounds.”
Some 2,275 dog attacks took place on postmen and women across the UK in 2017-18, some leading to a permanent and disabling injury. The overall number of UK attacks reduced in the last year by 8 per cent, yet in some postcode area attacks are disappointedly increasing: in the TQ postcode above all, up over 400 per cent; the SK postcode (75pc), OL (73pc), AL (67pc) and SL (63pc). Dog awareness week aims to raise awareness of the issue of dog attacks on postmen and women and encourage responsible dog ownership.
Dr Shaun Davis, Royal Mail Group Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability said: “One attack is still one attack too many. Our research continues to show that attacks happen most often in the summer, so we are continuing our campaign to appeal to customers to help us cut attacks across the UK.
“I am pleased that the overall dog attacks numbers continue to fall, but I am still very concerned that in some postcodes attacks are on the increase. I am appealing to dog owners to think twice when the postman calls.
“Dog attacks have a devastating effect on our people and on our customers and we hope we can make a further impact in these areas. We will also be rolling out new interactive training for our people in the hotspot areas to try and help us to do that. But people should remember that 82 per cent of attacks happen at the front door or in the garden so this is not just a Royal Mail issue, many other delivery, and utility companies and local authorities face the same problem.”
And for the trade union CWU, National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce said: “The failure of some dog owners to control their animals remains a major concern for postal workers and the public. The number of attacks, with yearly hospital admissions for dog bites, increased by 76 per cent between 2006 and 2016. Seven postal workers are attacked by dogs every working day of the year which is unacceptable. The whole idea of Dog Awareness Week is to highlight the problem and the repercussions for dog owners and the victims, many of whom are seriously injured. More and more dog attacks happen on postal workers at the front door or in the front garden and that number is increasing as we deliver more online purchased parcels.
“We are appealing to all customers who are dog owners to work with us and think TWICE when the postman calls. Put the dog away in secure room before opening the door to collect and sign for your delivery. The vast majority of our customers and their dogs aren’t a problem but irresponsible and reckless dog owners are. Customers are always pleased to see the postman or postwoman arrive as they’re eager to take delivery of the goods they’ve ordered but thousands of them unfortunately don’t give a second thought to the postal worker’s safety by putting the dog in a safe, secure place. There are tough court penalties and a criminal record for irresponsible dog owners including prison and unlimited fines so it’s in their best interest in more ways than one to make sure the dog doesn’t bite the postman or woman.”
A Dog Awareness Week postmark is applied to all stamped items from Monday to Saturday, June 25 to 30.
