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Posted: 15th July 2013

Royal Mail campaign tackles dog attacks

Attacks on postmen a 'significant concern'

Royal Mail has launched the first Dog Awareness Week to help address the issue of dog attacks on postmen and women, some of which have led to permanent disability.

Since April 2011, there have reportedly been over 5,500 dog attacks on Royal Mail postmen and women, and a loss of 4,100 working days in total due to injuries.

Whilst attacks across the UK have dropped by 24 per cent since 2011, Royal Mail says it is working to drive this number down further, and has joined forces with Communication Workers Union (CWU) to launch the new campaign.

Running from July 15 to 19, Dog Awareness Week aims to tackle the issue by helping owners to see how simple training methods could prevent their dogs feeling threatened by postmen and women.

The Dogs Trust and Wood Green are supporting the campaign by holding question and answer sessions for owners on their Facebook pages, and the Dogs Trust have also helped to create posters with top tips for dog owners.

Shaun Davis, director of health, safety and wellbeing for Royal Mail, said: "Clearly most dogs are not inherently dangerous, however, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

"Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers, and we appeal to owners to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature."

Royal Mail will also aim to target their postmen and women, giving advice on what to do in the event of an attack, and how to minimise physical harm.

As part of the campaign, parliamentary under secretary, Lord De Mauley, will also become a London postman for a day, joining a postman who has previously been the victim of an attack.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal
Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here.

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