Belfast posties made 49 dog bite reports last year after encounters with pets as they worked to delivery letters and parcels.
The average of almost one a week in the city is the second highest recorded rate in the UK, just two reports behind Sheffield and five ahead of the third, Tunbridge Wells.
At the start of Royal Mail's Dog Awareness Week, they have revealed the UK numbers of reported dog attacks on their workers dropped by 31% in a year, driven largely by the move to contact free deliveries during the pandemic.
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Royal Mail say 1,673 dog attacks were reported in 2020/21, compared to 2,445 in 2019/20 with an average 33 attacks taking place every week across the UK, with some leading to permanent and disabling injuries.
The BT postcode area covering Belfast, was placed third this year with 49 attacks, the figure is 35% down on last year’s total, that placed the area in the No1 danger spot with 75 attacks. The BT postcode area has appeared in every top 10 list since Royal Mail began releasing figures on yearly attacks.
During the pandemic Royal Mail was the first company to launch contact free delivery enabling its colleagues to deliver mail and parcels at the doorstep while adhering to social distancing measures. Under the revised process, colleagues place larger parcels on the doorstep, then step aside to a safe distance while the customer retrieves their item.
Royal Mail said: "Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal workers. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.
"Please help us to deliver your post in safely by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room. Think twice before opening the door – is your dog secure?"
As in previous years, the majority of dog attacks, 654 or 39%, took place at the front door and a further 498 or 30% dog attacks took place in the garden, driveway or yard, while 134, 8%, took place in the street or road.
There were also 387 injuries suffered through letterboxes, accounting for 23% of attacks on postal workers and some attacks have had a devastating impact.
Dr Shaun David, Royal Mail's health and safety chief, said: "We are pleased to see such a significant decrease in dog attacks on our staff this past year. However, 33 dog attacks per week on postal workers is still an alarmingly high average.
"We are aware that a change in our delivery procedures was the main factor for the reduction in attacks this year. So, we are asking our customers – and our colleagues - not to become complacent as there is still much work to do in bringing the figure down even further. The safety of our people is of paramount importance as they work hard to keep the UK connected.”
And Dave Joyce, from the Communications Worker's Union, said: "Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postmen and postwomen across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated. A total of 33,000 postmen and postwomen have been attacked by dogs in last decade. More than 80% at the front door, garden path or drive, 1,000 dog bites through the letterbox in the last five years – many workers seriously injured and some losing fingers.
"On average, 33 postal workers are attacked every week last year alone. There has been a huge increase in dogs purchased by new owners, during the pandemic. This may add to postal workers’ problems as recent research tells us that many of these dogs haven’t been trained or socialised.
"The key objectives of Dog Awareness Week are firstly to remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and help prevent dog attacks on postal workers who have been heroes working through the pandemic as key workers. And secondly, a message to our postmen and postwomen to be vigilant, keep safe and take no risks.”
Tips for dog owners to help posties stay safe
- Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or postwoman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or another room
- Never open the door when your dog is behind you
- If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get around to the front when the postman or postwoman calls
- Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item
- Make sure children don’t open the door as dogs may push by them
- Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered
- Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway, keep everything as calm and low-key as possible,
- If your dog likes to attack your mail, consider installing a wire letter receptacle which will protect your post and your postman’s or postwoman’s fingers
- If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman or postwoman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.
- Please ensure your dog is microchipped, wearing a collar and tag, and that your contact details on the tag and microchip are up to date.
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