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With Christmas fast approaching, Royal Mail and postal workers are entering their busiest period. Between festive greetings cards and last-minute gifts, households across the country will be anticipating numerous deliveries in the weeks ahead.
For those with pets, taking proper precautions before postal workers call is crucial to safeguard both the delivery person and your animal. The Royal Mail website says: “Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal workers. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.”
As such, the postal delivery service has urged pet owners to follow a ‘rule’ to make sure their dog is secure and out of the way before their post arrives. Helpfully, the postal delivery service has revealed several tips that homeowners can use that simplify the process and help keep visitors safe, reports the Mirror.
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The first step for homeowners is to secure their dog before anyone arrives at the door. “Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or postwoman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room,” the Royal Mail said. “Never open the door when your dog is behind you.”
The experts explained: “Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.”
Pet owners could give their dog a toy or some food to keep them occupied while the mail is delivered. Finally, the advice suggests waiting ten minutes before letting the dog back into the hallway.
“Wait ten minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway”, Royal Mail said. “Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.” The website enables dog owners to download a customer postcard they can display in their window, letting people know they have a dog and asking them to wait while the owner secures the dog before opening the door.
However, some dog owners might find it is not possible to keep their dog away from the door. In these instances, the Royal Mail asks people to consider getting a mailbox.
The guidance reads: “If your dog likes to attack your mail, consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s or postwoman’s fingers. If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman or postwoman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.”
In a comment shared earlier this year, Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, said: “Dog attacks remain one of the most significant safety risks faced by postal workers. In many cases, these incidents result in serious injuries, emotional distress, and time away from work. Royal Mail continues to call on the public to be vigilant and responsible by securing their pets before opening the door to receive mail or packages.
“We continue to invest in safety training and awareness campaigns for both employees and the public but emphasise that community cooperation is essential to reducing these incidents.”
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