Christmas campaign urges dog owners to install safety gates

A pre-Christmas campaign from the Royal Mail is reminding dog owners to ensure that postal workers are protected from bites and other incidents on the doorstep.

A mailer from the organisation consists of a warning to be placed on the front door of each house to alert postal and delivery workers that there is a dog on the premises. The other side consists of a list of tips and obligations for dog owners to help prevent dog attacks, including advice to install safety gates at the front door and internally, if possible, to prevent dog escapes.

Over the last 12 months, there were more than 2026 dog attacks on postmen and women across the UK, an increase of 15% from the previous year. According to Royal Mail, 1,000 postmen and women have had a finger bitten off or severely injured whilst delivering the mail through the letterbox in the last five years.

The Dog-G8 Company markets a range of concertina gates that aid dog owners with training, prevent dogs from escaping, and reduce the potential risk of an attack on postal and delivery workers coming to the house.

Director Chris Maxted said: “The public need to be aware that if their dog attacks a postal worker, they will be prosecuted either by the Police, Local Authority or by Royal Mail via a private prosecution under the agreement between Royal Mail and (trade union) the CWU.

“Police forces around the UK have also launched the LEAD (Local, Environmental, Awareness on Dogs) campaign which is all about encouraging the responsible ownership of all dog breeds – with the aim of improving public safety, reducing anti-social behaviour and ensuring dogs are looked after appropriately.”