A Royal Mail postal worker has been branded 'cruel' after doorcam footage captured the moment he kicked a customer's puppy in the face.
When we ponder great rivalries, we think of David vs Goliath, Celtic vs Rangers and posties vs dogs, with one street in Liverpool left without post for six months after a dog attacked a postal worker there in 2023.
Others feared that a 16-stone dog might have eaten a postman after it was spotted chomping down on an arm, so it's clear to see that the two parties don't always have the best relationship.
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However, there was perhaps no defence for the postie who was captured on camera recently kicking Bella the cockapoo after she approached him during a delivery.
Nikki Walker was working from home on 17 April when her puppy heard the garden gate open and jumped out of a ground floor window.
She then heard a 'yelp of pain' so rushed to the front door to question the Royal Mail postman, who then told her she could 'do what the f**k she wants' after she promised to check the doorcam footage to see what had happened.
After watching the footage, she and her daughter were left 'mortified' after seeing the postal worker kick Bella square in the face with his right boot, after she had run over towards him.
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Nikki, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, said: "When I heard yelping I quickly ran outside the front door.
"When I asked what she's yelping he said he didn't know. I asked if he'd kicked the dog and he said 'no, I put my leg up to stop her from jumping'.
"That won't be the case because he put his leg back and kicked. I knew he was lying to me. I told him I'd check the camera then he said 'do what the f**k you want'.
"Bella ran into the house, curled and cowered on the sofa and that's not like her. I knew something had happened. I sat next to her to watch the video and when I did I was absolutely fuming.
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"She was wagging her tail. She wasn't aggressive or barking. She's a faithful puppy. She loves cuddles, attention and she'd sit on your knee for hours.
"If he'd have done that to my last dog he'd have killed her. My daughter watched the video and she was absolutely mortified."
Royal Mail has since threatened to suspend deliveries to Nikki's house as they seek to prioritise the 'safety and welfare' of their staff, sending her a letter demanding she build a new fence - which she estimates will cost her £80 - in order to secure Bella before they'll return to the address.
Nikki claims they previously offered her £100 compensation.
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Users on social media have branded the postal worker a 'scumbag' and called for him to be sacked, but the postie, who has now been removed from Nikki's route, maintains that he was simply defending himself.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident involving one of our postmen and a dog on Green Lea in Leeds.
“Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers. The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control.
“However, last year, there were over 2,200 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK – some resulting in life-changing injuries.
“We continue to appeal to dog owners to secure their pets when the postie arrives to help reduce the number of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden.”
James Moorhouse