The Royal Mail has announced that there are as many as seven dog attacks a day on their employees, a figure that has fallen over the years but still remains at an "unacceptable" level.
Speaking at the launch of its annual Dog Awareness Week, Dr Shaun Davis of the Royal Mail said: "There have been around 14,500 attacks on our postmen and women over the last five years, with over 2,400 this year alone. Some of these attacks have led to extremely serious and life-changing injuries and this is unacceptable."
Credit: Creative Commons
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That average rates at seven attacks per day, the majority of which take place in the front garden or as posties are putting mail through the letter box. One dog owner was fined £8,000 earlier this year after a Royal Mail employee was bitten on the hand while she delivered letters through the door.
North London postman James Reynolds was attacked by a dog last year and suffered bites to his arm and thigh. He told Sky News: "People think it's funny - Oh, the dog's chasing the postman - but trust me, it's not funny. Every time I see a large dog now when I'm delivering, I freeze." Reynolds is still awaiting compensation from the owner of the dog that attacked him.
"Over 70 percent of dog attacks on postmen and women occur on the garden path or at the doorstep of the dog's owner home. It just needs owners to restrict their animals access to the front garden or to put their dog in another room before opening the door to collect a parcel or sign for an item" said Dave Joyce, safety officer for the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents postal workers.
He continued: "Seven postal workers attacked by dogs every day of the year is unacceptable and 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."
The idea of a dog chasing a postal worker has historically become a joke but it does have real effects on those delivering the letters.
"Our postmen and women need to be able to deliver the service they provide to communities across the UK, without the risk of injury." said Dr Shaun Davis.
"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."
Run in conjunction with pet charities The Dogs Trust and Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, Dog Awareness Week is an annual initiative by the Royal Mail that is now entering its fifth year and seeks to highlight the danger of unsupervised dogs who attack postal workers.
Source: Sky News
Featured Image Credit: Creative CommonsTopics: Dogs, Royal Mail