Postal staff have witnessed an “alarming rise” in dog attacks, as pointed out by a union.
Royal Mail has reported 2,206 dog attacks in the twelve months leading up to March 2024 – a 15% surge from the previous year.
Several of these attacks have resulted in severe injuries, leaving the mail carriers with permanent disabilities.
The recorded number of attacks causing substantial and severe harm to postal workers was 82 during this period, as opposed to 33 in the preceding twelve months.
Canine attacks led to the absence of postal workers for over 2,273 days in 2023/24, with the longest absence lasting 197 days.
As part of its yearly Dog Awareness Week, Royal Mail is urging customers to be more attentive and accountable for their pets.
Portsmouth, Belfast, Bristol, Brighton, and Plymouth were identified as some of the high-risk areas.
Dave Joyce, the health and safety officer at the Communication Workers’ Union, expressed deep concern over the increased number of dog bite incidents and severe dog attacks on postal workers.
He emphasized, “The primary aim of Dog Awareness Week is to remind the public of their legal and moral obligations to manage their dogs and prevent dog attacks on postal workers who serve the community.”
“The public should realize that legal action can be taken against them if their dog attacks a postal worker.”
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Most dog attacks occurred at the entrance, followed by the garden, driveway, or yard, with some incidents taking place on the street.
One out of every five incidents transpired through letterboxes, although pet owners can face legal consequences if their animals have access to the letterbox and harm any delivery personnel.
Lizz Lloyd, Royal Mail’s director of health and safety, remarked, “It is disheartening and distressing to witness an ongoing rise in attacks on our staff.
“Dog attacks have grave repercussions for our employees, and we urge dog owners to exercise caution when our personnel are on their premises.
“All dog attacks can be life-altering for victims, even if the physical injuries are not severe.
“Nearly half of the attacks occur at the doorstep and over a quarter in the front yard, indicating that this issue extends beyond Royal Mail, affecting many other organizations as well.”
