No Royal Mail deliveries after dog attacks postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Royal Mail has not delivered post to two Dagenham streets for more than a week following a dog attack on a postman.

It suspended deliveries in Crossway and Fieldway after a postman was bitten by a German Shepherd in Crossway on Monday last week.

The 48-year-old, who had just delivered letters to a property, suffered a deep wound to his calf and is recovering in hospital.

Police said they do not have the power to seize the mutt as it is claimed the attack happened on private land. It is not a criminal offence for a dog to be out of control on private property where they are permitted to be.

A Royal Mail spokesman said the company stopped deliveries to homes close to the dog owners’ property to ensure the safety of their staff, but added: “We are working hard to resolve this so that deliveries can be resumed as soon as possible.”

Some residents living in Crossway and Fieldway said they are unhappy with the suspension.

One, a 55-year-old woman who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “What happened to the postman was horrible and we understand that his colleagues feel uncomfortable about coming here, but it’s not fair that we’ve had to go more than a week without deliveries.

“Many of us have busy lives and some are housebound, so it’s not easy for us to get to the local depot.

“I believe that dog should be seized as soon as possible by the police so we can get our post again. The law doesn’t make any sense.”

The Royal Mail spokesman added: “There are around 4,000 animal attacks a year on Royal Mail people. These attacks cause great distress and in many cases serious injuries.

“We always welcome the co-operation of our customers for taking responsibility for keeping their pets under control.”

Another postman was bitten by a dog in Shepherds Close, Chadwell Heath two hours before the Dagenham attack.

[R@YAL F@IL]

Make the dog owner collect his mail from the delivery office, that is not a criminal offence either