Dogs

WRIGHT88 · Post by **WRIGHT88** » 01 Jul 2018, 07:43

Hello postie's,just wondering if any one can help me out,was delivering to customer who opened door and let there dog come flying out barking/growling,it came all round my legs ankles,feeling like I was going to get bitten I asked the customer to grab he's dog,the customer just laughed and smiled,I said grab your dog coz if it bites me I don't want to have to kick it.two days later delivery to same address,dog comes flying out barking/growling and nips me on the ankle,I shout at the dog and it runs off,next thing there a lady there holding the dog,asking me if I just kicked her dog,I said don't be so stupid does it look like I kicked your dog,you need to control your dog and carried on, mentioned this to my manager who didn't take much notice,so just carried on as it wasn't a bad bite,and wanted to avoid any arguments,2weeks later the customer has made a complaint saying I kicked her dog and threatened to kick her as well,saying she's got wittiness,and the police were informed as well.im now tooken off deliverys while they do an investigation which I feel is unfair to me.any advice would be very much appreciated.

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 01 Jul 2018, 09:52

Personally wouldn’t worry about it. If it bit you she’s made it worse by telling the police she has an out of control dog.
If a dog bit me, I’d kick it until it stopped and I’d expect the police to back me up on this.

Jpro747 · Post by **Jpro747** » 01 Jul 2018, 10:17

Had quite a few close calls with dogs this week where the customers have had their doors open because of the hot weather. Not many people take it seriously enough, they just laugh and say don’t worry it won’t hurt you. Even on dog awareness week!

matthew68 · Post by **matthew68** » 01 Jul 2018, 19:48

Jpro747 wrote:Had quite a few close calls with dogs this week where the customers have had their doors open because of the hot weather. Not many people take it seriously enough, they just laugh and say don’t worry it won’t hurt you. Even on dog awareness week!

Experience exactly same last week with ignorant customers claiming they’re dogs is ok, I had one women wrestling with Alsatian to keep,it back whilst trying to sign for something and another despite me warning them let dog run and bite me on arm , Dom has now written to both and suspended delivery as one with Alsatian had already had letter about 6 months back! They are some clueless people about and if any dog lunges or bites you infoydom as you don’t have to deliver there any more

calsae · Post by **calsae** » 01 Jul 2018, 22:19

Post woman in our DO got nipped on the leg by a dog, contacted her own solicitor who claimed off the mans house insurance and got a payout of £4K. Since then another lad has had £3k from claiming off the persons home insurance. I'm waiting for a bite

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 02 Jul 2018, 09:41

calsae wrote:Post woman in our DO got nipped on the leg by a dog, contacted her own solicitor who claimed off the mans house insurance and got a payout of £4K. Since then another lad has had £3k from claiming off the persons home insurance. I'm waiting for a bite

The sweet kiss from the jaws of compensation

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 03 Jul 2018, 16:32

calsae wrote:Post woman in our DO got nipped on the leg by a dog, contacted her own solicitor who claimed off the mans house insurance and got a payout of £4K. Since then another lad has had £3k from claiming off the persons home insurance. I'm waiting for a bite

This is handy to know for future reference, whilst hoping to never have to deploy, but I wonder if even that's really enough?

What I mean is that a bad dog attack can be life changing, both physically and mentally. If an attack left you traumatized enough to be unable to go back to work as a postie, four grand isn't going to last long.

Let's hope none of us our ever in the position to have to find out.

GRS · Post by **GRS** » 03 Jul 2018, 16:41

Heard today that we should be using a posting peg for every call. Is this correct or is it just at calls where dogs grab the mail.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 03 Jul 2018, 18:05

GRS wrote:Heard today that we should be using a posting peg for every call. Is this correct or is it just at calls where dogs grab the mail.

Only where dogs attack the letterbox as far as I know. Can you imagine how long a duty would take if you used your posting leg for every door?

Mind you, if management are you telling you this I personally would follow their advice and do it....but follow the procedure for finishing on time and bringing mail back, because there'd be a lot more than usual. But then I've been getting a bit pedantic of late, as far as RM are concerned...

We actually got issued pegs today. First one I've seen since I started. Had to sign receipt of ownership and everything, ha ha. Does anyone else think they're about an inch too long? They won't fit in any shorts pocket any sense.

Flashman_ · Post by **Flashman_** » 03 Jul 2018, 18:08

Getting back to the OP`s question.
First off, don't worry, even if you got into an argument with this lady, as she should have controlled the dog in the first place. The incident was caused by her ignorance of her legal obligations. Her allegations are just that, and without any proof of what was said they mean nothing. I would contact your rep and get them to put you back onto deliveries, on other routes (assuming you want to). Even if things were said in haste, and if said dog was kicked, they will be easily mitigated by the perilous situation you were placed into by her.
Frankly your union rep should be all over this, dog attacks are serious and trumps any niceties to owners in those situations.

WRIGHT88 · Post by **WRIGHT88** » 05 Jul 2018, 08:03

Thanks everyone for your advice comments,I was suspended off deliverys for two days Monday/Tuesday,then come Wednesday when it's heavy and they are short staffed I was aloud back out on deliverys, So I can't be that much of a risk to the public and there dogs can i,this firm with there watered down managers at all levels is an absolute disgrace.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 05 Jul 2018, 18:15

I hope you're getting paid for Monday and Tuesday.