Royal Mail has shared some tips for dog owners after it was reported there's an average of 32 attacks on its delivery staff each week in the UK.
This adds up to around 1,673 attacks last year, with some leading to permanent and disabling injuries.
The postal company has responded by identifying potentially dangerous homes on their drivers' handheld devices to alert the user that a dog is at the property, the Mirror reports.
The alert, which shows a symbol of a dog at any potentially dangerous addresses, is being launched across devices used by all Royal Mail delivery staff over the next few months.
It's hoped it will help minimise injuries by letting staff know if they'll encounter a dangerous dog. It's also useful for those on unfamiliar rounds, who may not know of the threats at certain addresses.
Philip Graham, Royal Mail interim director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability, told the Mirror : "We know the number of attacks rises during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and dogs are sometimes allowed unsupervised in the garden or out onto the streets without restraints.
"While we want our customers to enjoy being outside with their pets, we also want to ask them to consider the danger unsupervised dogs pose to our colleagues."
Letterbox attacks were the subject of a High Court ruling in 2020 that stated dog owners (or those in care of a dog) can be prosecuted if their pets have free access to the letterbox and cause injury to any delivery operative, whether the owner is at home or not.
There were 387 injuries suffered through the letterbox last year, making up nearly a quarter of all attacks.
In May 2017, a Royal Mail postman lost the tip of his finger while delivering to a customer’s address.
In October 2021 the dog owner was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, £1000 in costs to Royal Mail, a victim surcharge of £85, and a suspended destruction order was placed on the dog.
Dave Joyce, national health and safety officer, Communication Workers' Union, said: "Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postmen and women across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated.
"I have written to the DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice calling for a meeting to discuss what more the government and police can do to toughen up the dog control laws – such is my concern.
"The key objectives are to primarily remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their pets and prevent dog attacks on postal workers - and secondly is a message to our Postmen and Women to be vigilant, keep safe and take no risks."
Tips for dog owners
Royal Mail has shared some ideas to help your postman deliver your post in safety:
- Make sure your dog is out of the way before the postman or postwoman arrives, by placing in the back garden or a different room
- Never open the door when your dog is behind you
- Close off access to your back garden in case your dog could get around to the front when the postman or postwoman calls
- Give your dog some food or a toy to keep them busy while your mail is being delivered
- Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway, keeping everything as calm and low-key as possible
- If your dog likes to attack your mail, consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It 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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