Chesham company leads the way in protecting postmen from dan

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Chesham company leads the way in protecting postmen from dangerous dogs

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POSTMEN could soon be able to pop mail through the letter box without the fear of being attacked by a dog, thanks to a Chesham company.

PostalAudits has donated £20,000 to help the RSPCA develop methods for coping with aggressive canines – which injure thousands of posties every year.

The money from the Mead Business Centre-based firm will pay for work in the charity’s animal science department which it is hoped will help protect people like postmen, district nurses and utility workers from dangerous dogs.

The research will at first be used to help staff working with animals in rescue centres. The RSPCA hopes the advice can be used by anyone coming into contact with dogs.

PostalAudits advises companies on their use of mail and other delivery services. Its managing director, Derek Fairhurst, said: “The startling fact is that at least eight people have been killed in the last four years and over 200 more have been seriously injured by dogs.

“Every year, about 6,000 postmen are injured by dogs. That’s why we have funded this work with the RSPCA to try and tackle the problem head on.

He continued: “We’re hoping the end result will be a decrease in the amount of injuries on delivery personnel. It’s a sensible approach to do something about it head on.”

RSPCA scientific officer Jenna Kiddie has already launched the project, working with dogs in centres across the country.

Charity spokesman James Yeates said: “We know that dogs can show aggression because they feel threatened or have had negative experiences in the past, so we hope that this vital research will help protect both animals and humans in the future.”