Postie takes lead on dogs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Postie-ta ... 4490918.jp

Published Date: 15 September 2008
By Richard Marsden
A POSTMAN bitten five times by vicious dogs on his rounds in Sheffield has launched a campaign to persuade owners to keep their pets under control.
Phil Taylor, aged 36, based at the Royal Mail sorting offices in Hillsborough, is urging dog owners to take action to prevent more posties being hurt.

His colleague Paul Coleman, 40, was savaged by two terriers as he delivered mail in Grimesthorpe last year.

Mr Coleman, who is 6ft tall and weighs 17 stone, was dragged to the ground and pulled yards into the road during the attack.

He suffered bites to both legs and possible nerve damage to one of his arms. He was off work for six months.

Mr Taylor, of Wincobank, said: "The potential risk of being bitten by a dog is the worst part of the job and, although the sight of a postman being chased by a dog is the stuff of comedies, in reality it's anything but funny."

He is urging dog owners to:

- Keep pets indoors around the time the postman usually calls.

- Keep dogs in another room before answering the door.

- Close off access from the back garden in case dogs can get round to the front.

- Consider installing a letter cage for post inside the front door.

And if dogs cannot be kept away from a postman delivering mail, householders should consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of the property, he added.

Royal Mail bosses say there have been 40 attacks on staff in the Sheffield postcode area since April this year - and Mr Taylor has been bitten five times himself.

"On the last occasion I was delivering mail to an address in Hillsborough where normally there wasn't a dog," he said. "Unknown to me the residents were looking after someone's dog and, as I was walking away, it latched onto the back of my leg.

"I jumped and it let go, giving me time to get my mail pouch in front of me. I shouted at the dog, a cross-breed, it but it tried to have another go at me. Blood was pouring from two puncture wounds but, eventually, the occupier got it back into the house."

Mr Taylor's campaign coincides with national action by the Communication Workers' Union.

Health and safety representative Darrell Bennett said the union is calling for a change in the law to allow more prosecutions of owners.

"Currently the Dangerous Dogs Act does not apply to incidents on private property, where postal workers have to go as part of their duties," he said.

"It is covered by the Dogs Act 1871, under which action can be taken against the dog, but owners cannot be prosecuted."

Royal Mail area safety manager Chris Roberts added: "We know not all dogs are dangerous, but even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

"Our first priority is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people and increasingly we have to suspend deliveries."