Postal workers to 'bite back' on attacks by dangerous dogs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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EVERY day hundreds of postal workers in our county head out, often armed with sticks, balls and dog biscuits, to face their worst enemy: dangerous dogs.

According to figures released by the Communication Workers Union, which launched its Dangerous Dogs – Bite Back campaign two years ago, dog attacks are a major health concern to postal workers, with more than 6,000 bitten or attacked each year.

Trauma

Dave Joyce, CWU health, safety and environment officer, said: "We've had members lose fingers and nearly limbs or suffer severe trauma as a result of dog attacks, all for doing their job."

Brian Eddy, who has been delivering post for the past 20 years in and around Penzance, said attacks from vicious dogs were a constant problem and that injuries were getting much worse.

"I have been attacked on numerous occasions," he said. "I deliver to a lot of rural farms and isolated houses and in these areas dogs are often more territorial."

In one incident, Brian nearly lost a finger when a pit bull terrier locked its jaw onto his hand as he posted a letter to a house in Newlyn.

"It felt like a child with a pair of pliers gripping hold of my finger. I was stuck there for ages when suddenly it let go. The bite went through to the bone," he said.

Brian was also bitten in June last year when a dog sunk his teeth into his stomach. Several months later a different dog carried out the same attack, leaving Brian in agony and with teeth puncture wounds in his skin.

"In the first attack I was working in Penzance when a dog bit me full on the stomach. I needed an injection and had three days off work. Then a few months later I was bitten in the stomach again by a dog that had already bitten three other postmen. This time I needed an iodine wash and antibiotics," said Brian.

"Dogs seem to go into attack mode and will come out of nowhere – at least with chickens and geese you can see them coming. The law offers us no protection and there is no deterrent for dog owners, all that happens is their post will be stopped for one week following an attack.

"Our uniforms have also got thinner and more lightweight which means more bites and scratches are now damaging skin," added Brian.

The CWU is now pursuing a compensation claim in regard to Brian's case, but they are difficult as the Dangerous Dogs Act affords no protection to people who are bitten by dogs on private property.

According to the CWU in 2008 a postal worker in Cornwall was savaged by an Alsatian dog – despite the vicious nature of the attack nothing happened. The owners were not even required to keep the dog under control, all because the incident occurred on private land.

Tracey Rikard, the CWU health and safety rep for the south-west region, said on average 35% of all accidents were animal-related – the vast majority being dog bites.

Between April 2008 and April 2009, the CWU in Cornwall recorded 65 incidents of postal staff bitten by dogs. There were 51 attacks from April to December last year.

"This year Royal Mail and the union are making dog attacks a number one priority. We want to raise public awareness and also encourage postmen to report attacks – we believe only a tiny number ever get reported because postmen don't want to spend time filling out forms and rarely attend hospital unless they have a serious injury," she said.

Postboxes

One of the schemes being offered is encouraging dog owners to fit secure postboxes to gates or walls away from animals, and if a postman or woman has concerns about a dog they can send a letter to the pet-owner outlining their fears and warning them that if a solution cannot be found then their mail delivery may be suspended.

"Before delivery times changed people knew the post would arrive in the morning. Now delivery times are all over the place which makes it tricky for dog owners who obviously don't want to keep their dogs indoors all day," added Tracey.

Postmen used to carry noise alarms which proved effective deterrents when being threatened by a dog. Now they are given pepper spray which many postal workers say is difficult to utilise under attack.

Dave Joyce believes greater protection will only come when dog attacks on private property are made a criminal offence.

"The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act has been totally ineffective in preventing or reducing the number of dog attacks on postal delivery workers and in fact the number is increasing," he said.

"It's not just postal workers who are at risk – any worker who has to go onto private property, like meter readers, phone engineers and health workers – aren't protected from dog attacks.

"We think the behaviour not the breed should be punished.

"Responsible dog owners should be commended, but we want police and dog wardens to have the power to issue Dog ASBOs or 'control orders' on owners of dogs that are a threat before an attack takes place."

Recent reports stated a total of 630 people attended the Royal Cornwall A&E department during a two year period to be treated for injuries caused by dogs.

Penalties

Postal, gas, water and electricity workers and council staff all have to visit private properties as part of their job, along with district nurses, home helps, and health visitors.

The CWU is also calling on the courts to hand down tougher penalties to irresponsible owners of dogs that cause injury or death.

[brunswick]

how many victims of dog bites were wearing hi-vis clothing? ie florescent vests. according to RM all should have. i firmly beleive that these vests aggitate dogs and RM should look towards a less bold form of this clothing.

[plainpat]

" and if a postman or woman has concerns about a dog they can send a letter to the pet-owner "


You'd laugh if it wasn't so blinking serious

[Thunderthighs]

And I thought dogs were Colour Blind???

Anyway, doggy here was dodgy, so outside box was put onto the wall.
But...after putting mail in, and walking away..
Owner let her dog out! WTF!!!
Case pending with Simp/Millar for Dog Attack/AOD.
Four months off with torn adductor muscle.