One too many
As part of our seventh National Dog Awareness Week last month, we generated 73 individual TV and radio interviews with a reach of over 52 million.
Top-line interviews saw our group director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability, Dr Shaun Davis and Warrington postwoman Tina O'Toole (who had recently suffered a dog attack) talking to BBC Breakfast, BBC One O'clock News, BBC Radio One, Sky News, Sky News Radio, Channel 5 News, TalkSport, LBC plus a raft of regional radio outlets.
The week aimed to encourage responsible dog ownership and raise awareness of the issue with the public. The number of attacks is still too high and every dog attack is one attack too many. On average, there are around 47 attacks on our people every week across the UK, with some leading to a permanent and disabling injury.
With 82% of attacks occurring at the delivery point or on private property, we know that we are relying on the public to make changes to their behaviour to keep our postmen and women safe. However, there are a few things we can do to help:
- Always use your posting peg – never put your fingers through a letterbox
- If there’s a gate into the garden, rattle it and wait to see if a dog is around
- Always ask owners to restrain their dogs and step away until they do – don’t be reassured that ‘he won’t bite.’
- Use your pouch or trolley as a barrier if you are attacked
- Never tease or antagonise a dog
- Report all dogs on your duty via the WRAP system
- If you are attacked, report it to your manager and the police immediately.
