Think twice

As we come to the end of our eighth successive Dog Awareness Week, we are appealing to dog owners to ensure they understand the often devastating impact of dog attacks on our postmen and women.

In the last year, more than 1,600 (78 per cent) of dog attacks on colleagues happened at the front door, in the garden or in the street. In total, there were 1,622 days of absence in 2019/20 due to attacks on colleagues – the longest period of absence being 99 days.

It is vital that all dog owners take proper measures to ensure their pets pose no threat to our people and ‘think twice’ before they open the door when a colleague calls to deliver their post.

Royal Mail is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of our people, who provide a valuable service to our customers across the length and breadth of the UK and in every community.

A postman’s experience

Press play to hear postman of 15 years, Mark Wilding, from Llandrindod Wells, Powys, describe the time he was attacked by a dog in the garden of a customer’s property.

‘I was delivering to a property in a cul-de-sac,’ said Mark. ‘And as I walked up the path, I heard some shouting. I looked up, and saw a dog appear from behind a car and run towards me. I could see it wasn’t a friendly approach.

‘I used my mail pouch to try and fend the dog off while the owner raced to control it. While trying to protect myself, the dog jumped up and bit me on my hand. It then started biting my hi-viz jacket and my trousers. Eventually the owner managed to drag the dog off me and get it into his house.

‘My hand wouldn’t stop bleeding, so I had to go to hospital. Although the wound wasn’t very deep, it was very frightening at the time, because the dog just kept attacking and wouldn’t stop.

‘I would like to ask all dog-owning customers to be aware of potential situations that might cause your dog to attack. It could easily have been a small child and the outcome could have been so much worse.’

Dave Joyce, CWU national health, safety and environment officer, said: ‘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 a secure room before opening the door to collect deliveries.’