Shock rise in dog - and cat - attacks on Coventry postmen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

POSTMEN in Coventry and Warwickshire were attacked by dogs more than 150 times last year, new figures reveal.

They show a dramatic increase in the number of dog bites from just 55 in 2008.

Postmen even reported two cat attacks in 2009. The figures were obtained following a Freedom of Information Act request from the Telegraph.

Unions say dog attacks can often leave postal workers traumatised after their ordeal.

Nigel deHavilland, area safety officer for the Communication Workers Union, and a former postman in Rugby, said that in the last three or four years dog attacks in Coventry were "a constant problem".

"It’s one of our major causes of accidents," he said. "And some of the smaller bites in more rural areas don’t get reported.

"The postmen feel that they own their deliveries. They know their customers and they feel part of the community.

"So if they get a nip off a dog they are extremely reluctant to do anything about it but there are other cases where people are quite often hospitalised. They end up reluctant to return to the scene of the attack."

In just the last three years dogs have attacked postmen a total of 255 times. Cats struck four times. In 2008 there were 44 dog attacks, and just 11 more the next year, but last year there was a massive 284 per cent increase.

The Kennel Club told the Telegraph new legislation should be introduced to allow every dog attack to lead to a prosecution.

Caroline Kisko said: "There are more than eight million dogs in the UK and the overwhelming majority are well trained, so they will never display aggression towards other dogs or people.

"But if a dog has learned to be protective over its property and a stranger approaches then it may cause injury.

"Every dog attack should be taken seriously and the Kennel Club is campaigning to have the dangerous dogs legislation overhauled so attacks that take place on private property can be prosecuted. Legislation should penalise irresponsible owners and those dogs that actually display aggressive behaviour rather than focusing on individual breeds."


Read More http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... z19W91RPN3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stormproof]

I'm not surprised the figures are up, people being dumped on different walks each day. If everyone had a regular walk they would know where the dogs.........and cats were.

[Wessex]

I'm not surprised the figures are up, people being dumped on different walks each day. If everyone had a regular walk they would know where the dogs.........and cats were.

Another thing not taken into consideration by the cognoscenti

[brothermagrew]

It is clear that the problem of out-of-control and dangerous dogs is growing across the United Kingdom. Scotland now sees around 600 reported dog attacks each year, which is more than double the figure 10 years ago. In 2007-08 hospitals treated 363 people who had been bitten or struck by a dog.

What we do know, though, is that in 2006-07—the most recent year for which there are records—there were some 623 offences (in Scotland) under the 1991 Act. It is therefore important that local authorities move quickly to employ wardens and properly resource and train them.