A bemused Bermondsey dog owner says he’s gone weeks without post after Royal Mail handed his harmless pooch an “ASBO”.
Donald Slattery, 61, says Coco wouldn’t hurt a fly but that hasn’t stopped the two-year-old cockapoo being handed a restraining order over its “level of threat”.
Donald believes the row over his dog has caused a two-week mail hiatus – plunging his taxi-driving work into turmoil after missing out on important documents.
Royal Mail has said mail to Donald has not been suspended. But it added that dogs can “pose a serious safety issue” to staff and that the well-being of its workers was “paramount”.
But Donald insists the row over his dog is causing him delivery issues. Comparing his dog’s punishment to an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), Donald said: “It’s nothing short of putting a tag on the dog’s leg!”
Still awaiting the delivery of important work documents, he said: “There’s nothing I can do. I’m out of work until I get the DBS. [taxi driver check].”
Donald, who lives on the top floor of a Bermondsey block, says Coco was slapped with the punishment in 2022.
It happened because Donald would sometimes leave his front door open meaning Coco would occasionally come out and bark at postmen.
While he understands that some people are wary of dogs, he said: “There’s no viciousness to her at all.
“Cockapoos are just playful dogs. All they want to do is chase balls, roll around the floor and sleep.”
In October 2022, he received a letter from Royal Mail saying it was “experiencing difficulties in delivering mail… because of the actions of a dog at your property”.
The letter said the “level of threat” meant Coco must be “restrained” between 10.30am and 3pm when the postman might arrive.
Donald has compared the letter to an ASBO, a controversial civil order brought in by Tony Blair to tackle delinquent behaviour.
But taking the letter on the chin, Donald says he’s been careful to keep the door shut ever since.
However, earlier this month, while varnishing his home, he briefly left his door open so his dog could escape the fumes. Unfortunately, the postman arrived during this time.
“It’s not that we ignored the letter,” Donald said. “We went by the rules because we need the mail”.
Donald says, on this rare occasion, Coco escaped and barked at the postman.
The postman then reportedly left the block vowing never to return to Donald’s address and claimed to have no mail for the family.
“I apologised to him and said ‘look mate I’m expecting important letters to do with work’ and he said ‘I don’t care I’m not coming back anymore’,” Donald said.
Donald says he received no mail between February 1 and February 16, meaning he’s missed out on DBS documents needed for him to resume work as a taxi driver.
When he finally received the letter he’d been waiting for, it said it hadn’t been delivered the first time due to a ‘dog loose’.
When he finally received the letter he’d been waiting for, it said it hadn’t been delivered the first time due to a ‘dog loose’
After taking his complaint to the sorting office Donald is now receiving mail but the delay has already cost him a month’s work.
A Bermondsey resident for 37 years, a disappointed Donald said: “I’ve never been out of work since I’ve been here.”
On its website, Royal Mail shares advice for dog owners. It says: “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 safety by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before the postman or woman arrives.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Dog attacks pose a serious safety issue to our postmen and women. The safety of our colleagues is paramount and we will ensure they are fully supported.
“Mail to this property has not been suspended and the customer continues to receive mail on a regular basis.”