Postman mauled by Alsatian thought he was going to die

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-i ... t-15286175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



A postman is recovering after being mauled by an Alsatian-type dog in County Tyrone.

Dean Barr was delivering mail in Castlederg when he was attacked. He sustained lacerations to his hands, arms and leg, as well as broken bones.

He said he thought he was going to die during the incident last Friday, and has called for the animal to be put down.

Strabane District Council is investigating the incident.

"I didn't see the Alsatian, so I assumed it was locked up round the back where it usually is," Mr Barr said.

"As I posted the mail, I turned round to get back into the van when the Alsatian leapt on me.

Intervention
"It started biting me on the arm, and when I put up my hand, it started to bite me on the hand.

"It tossed me to the ground and started biting me on the leg. It came at me again and I thought it was only a matter of time before it started going for my throat or face."

Mr Barr said he believed he would not have survived but for the intervention of the dog's owner.

"I just thought, once I was on the ground, this is it, I'm going to be killed."

Mr Barr said he was worried that the dog could attack someone else.

"I just don't understand how someone could have a dog like that about their home," he said.

A spokesperson for Strabane District Council said the matter was under investigation, and it would be inappropriate to comment

[Wessex]

No doubt it had never done that before ,was a beloved family pet ,and anyway it must have been the posties fault.

[steven100]

Most dogs are set off by our uniform and bright red bags. Why doesn't RM save money by giving us money to buy our own clothes and give us black bags instead. You don't here of many d2ds delivery people getting mauled.

[Wessex]

Most dogs are set off by our uniform and bright red bags. Why doesn't RM save money by giving us money to buy our own clothes and give us black bags instead. You don't here of many d2ds delivery people getting mauled.

From Pinto and Potts website , the occupations most at risk of assault by dog are -
"
Postal Delivery Workers
Leaflet Distributors
Meter Readers
Window Cleaners
Milk & Supermarket Delivery Staff
District Nurses "

I guess it's just our greater numbers that mean we suffer the largest percentage of attacks.

[brothermagrew]

Least we forget, the new Northern Ireland legislation, (as with the new Scottish Dangerous Dogs legislation, reported to Branches previously in LTB 221/11 on 8 March 2011), will apply everywhere, including private property and will give Police, Councils and Courts greater powers to impose penalties on the owners of dangerous dogs. The legislation modernises the existing "piecemeal" ineffective legislation in Northern Ireland (The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, The Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001) on dogs.

The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, places a sharper focus and responsible dog ownership and the control of dangerous or out of control dogs with more legal responsibility placed on the owners of badly behaved dogs.

That is of course presuming Strabane District Council are hopefully aware of the new legislation. Sure we would all wish Dean a speedy recovery.

[Darren Bent]

I would like to ban Alsatian in this country. I believe it is most dangerous dog breed. They get too excited for my liking. Hope the postman is ok and this dog is destroyed.