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Postman Stevek McKay was seriously injured when an out of control dog on an unfamiliar route in Wavertree, Liverpool, attacked him as he attempted to fend it away from him
Image: Liverpool Echo)
A postman attacked by a dog on his rounds said he was convinced he was “going to die” as he was dragged to the ground.
Steven McKay was assigned an unfamiliar route in Wavertree, Liverpool and was warned of an aggressive Jack Russell. When he approached the home he saw a Belgian Shepherd dog, known as Mally, which was “going ballistic”.
The owner’s other dog, a Jack Russell, then came out of the home and attacked the postman who fended it away. As he did so Mally jumped the fence so the victim turned and ran, but not before the animal caught him and sank its teeth into his buttocks, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
The dog continued to try to bite Mr McKay’s back, neck and face before being wrestled to the ground by his owner, Joseph Blaney. He tried to convince the victim to keep quiet about the incident and offered him money, but the postman declined and reported it to the police, Liverpool Echo reported.
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Prosecutor David Polglase said: “He felt a pain that he had never felt before he tried to grab Mally’s mouth as the dog tried to drag him off the car. He describes the dog as ‘ragging’ him as he dragged him to the ground.
“Mr McKay stopped in the road and gave a male on the pavement the post that he was to deliver so that he didn’t have to approach the property. Mally was ‘going ballistic’, barking, going mad and marching up and down the area.”
The attack resulted in Royal Mail suspending postal deliveries to the area, leaving residents without mail for almost six months. The suspension is believed to have impacted more than 25 properties on the road, with more people affected, including Alder Hey hospital patients and a 70-year-old waiting for cancer test results.
Charles Lander, defending, said the attack was “an isolated incident” and there had been no previous incidents involving the dog. He said Blaney had shown “clear remorse” for what happened.
Judge Kate Cornell said: (Mr McKay) has been traumatised by this incident. He’s now worried and anxious around other dogs, including his own. He’s had sleepless nights and nightmares. This must have been an awful experience for him, during which he genuinely believed he might die.
“The expert says you’re capable of being a responsible dog owner. You have taken steps to ensure he’s not unsupervised in the future and have taken on advice about keeping Mally safe and secure. The expert concludes the dog is not dangerous per se, but was roused to this behaviour due to the Jack Russell which it perceived to be under attack by Mr McKay.”
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