The Royal Mail has revealed there have been 24 attacks by dogs on its postmen and women in the past five years.
It comes as figures for the Uk were released showing their were 14,500 attacks on its staff by dogs as they attempted to deliver the Mail in the last five years – and more than 2,500 cases have been reported this year alone.
It may be stereotypical for our fury friends to attack postmen – but it’s no laughing matter. On average, seven dogs attack postal workers every day in the UK, and some can lead to permanent or even disabling injury to staff, says the Royal Mail.
In Burton, dog attacks are second only to falls as the biggest danger facing postal workers, said the spokesman.
Around four serious attacks happened between April 2016 and April this year in Burton, which was a decrease of 60 per cent on the previous year.
Nationally, last year 71 per cent of attacks on postal workers happened at the front door in the front garden of the homes they were delivering too. At these times, dogs are more likely to be unsupervised in the garden or the dog was not kept under control when the postman or woman knocks on the door, he said.
The Royal Mail recently launched its fifth annual Dog Awareness Week today to raise awareness of dog attacks and to encourage responsible dog ownership.
Geoff Braden, Royal Mail operations director, said: “While the number of dog attacks on postmen and women has fallen across the UK in the last year, the numbers are still far too high. Our postmen and women need to be able to deliver the service they provide to communities across the UK, without the risk of injury.
“This is why this campaign is so important. We need to keep raising awareness of this serious issue and ask all dog owners to keep their pets under control and be a responsible dog owner.”
What should dog owners do?
The Royal Mail has issued the following advice to dog owners:
- Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room.
- If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get round to the front when the postman calls.
- Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.
- Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered
- Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.
- If your dog likes to attack your mail consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s fingers
- If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.
- Please ensure your dog is microchipped, wearing a collar and tag and that your contact details on the tag and microchip are up to date.
