Postman Peter Clilverd loses finger in dog bite terror

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A postman has told how his finger was ripped off by a Staffordshire bull terrier in Herne Bay.

Peter Clilverd, 63, was on his rounds when the dog jumped up and pulled off part of his wedding ring finger through a letterbox in Pier Avenue.

The grandad-of-three lost almost an inch of the digit and surgeons were unable to sew it back on – despite a quick-thinking neighbour putting it in a bag of frozen peas.

Peter – a postman for 38 years – said: “I was just delivering the mail as usual. I didn’t hear the dog but knew there was one there. I was just getting on with my job.

“I put the letters through and the dog jumped up and latched on to me. I pulled my hand away and realised it had ripped part of my finger off. I was in so much shock I didn't feel any pain at first. It had cut through a small artery so blood was spraying out.”


The owners of the dog a puppy called Koojo attempted to retrieve the mangled finger while a neighbour tried to stem the bleeding.

Paramedics and the police were called to the scene and Peter was taken to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

Doctors referred him to plastic surgery specialists in East Grinstead, but Peter was told re-attaching the finger was not an option.

He had an operation to close the open wound and was sent home to Sweechbridge Road, in Herne Bay.

He said: "Because it had been ripped off and wasn’t a clean cut, like with a knife, they couldn’t do anything to save it.

"I’ve been bitten about eight times in 38 years, but nothing as serious as this. I was just getting on with my job and not thinking about it.

"I’m set to go back to work next week but I’m a bit dubious about putting my hands anywhere near a letterbox.

"Dogs biting postmen is something that is always joked about, but it’s really not funny. It can sometimes be very serious.

"At least it’s got me out of the washing up, for now."

Kent Police spokesman Lesley Miller said: "We did attend and spoke with the injured man, but there was no further action we could take as no laws had been broken as the dog was within its own property.

"The injured man was advised of his rights to bring a civil case against the dog owner."

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Dog owner Phil Akers said he bought one-year-old Koojo to protect the house after it was burgled.

The 32-year-old says postmen were aware of the long-legged Irish Staffordshire bull terrier and knew to be careful.

He said: “What did he expect? He knew the dog was there and had joked before that it was us biting the mail and not Koojo.

“I just remember being in bed and hearing my missus Debbie screaming that the postman was saying his finger had been bitten off.

“I had a look for it and couldn’t find it, so just assumed Koojo had eaten it, but then Debbie screamed again because she saw it on the floor.

“I picked up and handed it out of the window and asked if they wanted some ice, but a neighbour had sorted it.

“People will say Koojo is dangerous but she was just going for the post. She’s been tested by the RSPCA before and has no pit bull in her at all.

“We bought her for protection after we were burgled and she’s very well-behaved. It’s like having a baby.”

[Pat Ostman]

He said: “What did he expect? He knew the dog was there

Well that clears that one up I guess. Blame the postman.

[stokes11eg]

As someone who also received a bitten finger through a letterbox, I sympathize! hope no more mail is delivered until a cage is fitted!

[fishtank]

“What did he expect?"

I suppose he expected to go home from work with the same number of fingers he started with.
I suppose he expected that a customer who knew their dog was a risk would have the sense and intelligence to do something about it...a cage behind the door,a box on the wall,even just a sign on the door.
I suppose he expected too much from a dipshit with less brains than the dog. .

[fishtank]

Koojo

Can't even f***ing spell.

[Straight4ward]

I hope to God that we've suspended delivery.

[hans solo]

nope our office would have the postie down the conduct code for this
not using tools provided ie the wee red plastic thing to push letters through letterbox
they would blame postie

[dounome]

nope our office would have the postie down the conduct code for this
not using tools provided ie the wee red plastic thing to push letters through letterbox
they would blame postie

yes same in ours, according to dim always posties fault.

[delboy1969]

shows the danger we are in. I have only been in the job three months and have been bitten one by a dog with previous yet the owners insist the horrible little mutt doesn't bite! It is so easy to forget a dog is there when delivering mail and I have been caught out a couple of times at letterboxes by simply forgetting a dog is there. I know we are not supposed to put our fingers through letterboxes but like mid-deliveries they happen each and every day.

Really irritates me when the owners start blaming the postmen. Royal Mail should insist any home with dogs have at least a cage thingy to protect the postman and if they are not willing to do that then they are not going to get their mail delivered.

I think Royal Mail are far too lenient with the customer on the dog issue, when I got bit my manager really didn't give much of a stuff at all.

[Wessex]

I think Royal Mail should have a contingency fund to pay compensation to any postman who loses a digit or part of whilst on delivery.As it is i believe this postie will get nothing apart from getting the blame.
Perhaps this idea could be raised at the next cwu conference.This is the second postie to have suffered this indignity in the past year or so , at least that i have heard about,who knows there may be more.

[NWpostie]

I never put the finger through the box, I just hold it and let the dog rip the letters to shreds

[Pat Ostman]

“What did he expect?"

I suppose he expected to go home from work with the same number of fingers he started with.
I suppose he expected that a customer who knew their dog was a risk would have the sense and intelligence to do something about it...a cage behind the door,a box on the wall,even just a sign on the door.
I suppose he expected too much from a dipshit with less brains than the dog. .

Exactly

I would imagine he is still deserving of recompense (I know it's pedantic but I hate the term 'compo'). Did he sign the form admitting receipt of the dog equipment. Was it on the walk log?

[Stormproof]

If Petes office is anything like mine I doubt he or anyone has been issued the Pegs. We've all accidently put our hands through letterboxes, all that shite like brushes and draught excluders you need to sometimes force the letters through and its only luck that there has'nt been more injuries.
Perhaps all dog (and cat) owners should be putting boxes outside or cages behind the doors.

[NWpostie]

I never put the finger through the box, I just hold it and let the dog rip the letters to shreds

I tried that the other day but the f****r was so strong that it pulled them right out my hand! I've never seen it but it goes utterly apeshit when it hears me enter the building, throwing itself against the door and such.

At least its damaged, try another tack, hold it at an angle especially if it big and long, it will catch on the corner of the letter box and damages it even more revenge is sweet

[R@YAL F@IL]

Sad story but one that could have been avoided, he even stated that he knew a dog lived there so he should have used a dog peg or even NOT put his finger through the letter box, saying that is there a claim for losing part of his finger?