Dog owners warned to keep pets under control around postmen
Published 24 Jul 2012 07:00
1 Comment
DOG owners are being urged to keep their pets under control because more than 50 Reading area postmen were attacked in the last year.
Royal Mail has spent more than £100,000 on awareness campaigns and equipment, including 'posting pegs' which enable delivery staff to push items through the letterbox without getting their fingers nipped by waiting dogs.
But Dave Joyce, from the Communication Workers Union, said: "The age old image of the dog attacking the postman is not a laughing matter.
"Thousands of our members are bitten every year and hundreds suffer debilitating injuries which leave them with physical and psychological scarring, some with life changing disabilities and all in the course of doing their job."
A total of 55 post workers in the Reading area were injured by dogs in the 12 months to April this year, which was actually down 13% from 2010, but attacks usually peak during the summer holidays.
Royal Mail's safety director for the South West, Senol Ali, said: "Clearly most dogs are not inherently dangerous, however, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.
"Our first priority is to ensure the welfare and safety of people who provide a valuable service to our customers and we regularly provide advice to help minimise the risk of an attack.
"However, even just being threatened by an unrestrained pet is a frightening situation for our delivery staff and we would appeal to owners to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 23 Jul 12
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HAMHAMsterMan
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Jul 24, 15:39
Report commentThe postal system is now so slow I'm surprised any dog is awake at the time they finally decide to show...
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