Royal Mail says the number of dog attacks on its postal workers has surged—just months after an MP blamed “pandemic puppies” for skyrocketing incidents.
Figures released by the British postal service reveal that there were 1,916 dog attacks on workers logged in the year up until the end of March 2023.
The numbers have risen by 14 percent from the 1,673 reported dog attacks recorded from the same period in 2021/2022.
The attacks have led to some post employees suffering serious injuries, including one who needed surgery after being savaged by a dog whilst delivering mail.
The shocking statistics were released as part of Royal Mail’s annual ‘dog awareness week’, as postal chiefs urge owners to ensure their pets pose no threat to postal workers through responsible dog ownership.
In a joint campaign launched Monday, Royal Mail, alongside the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), warned pet owners they risk prosecution if their dogs injure public service workers.
They also called on pet owners to properly supervise animals that may come in to contact postal staff.
Firth said the increase was down to the purchasing of “pandemic puppies” during lockdowns as she called for a new law to tackle the scourge.
The Tory politician said the true figure is likely to be far higher—as just 14 out of 43 of the UK’s police forces record the attacks.
Over 3,000 Sick Days
According to Royal Mail, some 902 dog attacks took place at the front door, while a further 515—equating to or 27 percent— happened in the garden, drive or yard.A total of 118 attacks recorded for the same period occurred in the street or road.
There were 381 injuries suffered through the letterbox, accounting for 20 percent of attacks on postal workers.
In 2020, the High Court ruled that letterbox attacks that stated dog owners, or those looking after a dog, can be prosecuted if their pets have free access to the letterbox and cause injury to any delivery workers, the Royal Mail said.
The animal attacks resulted in more than 3,014 days of absence from work for Royal Mail workers last year.
The Tunbridge Wells postcode area reported the most incidents during the year to March 31. 2023, with 65 workers suffering attacks, it said.
The Belfast and Sheffield postcode areas were the next highest, accounting for 56 and 50 reports respectively.
Royal Mail’s health and safety director Lizzie Lloyd described the latest figures as concerning.
“We know the number of attacks rises during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and dogs are sometimes allowed unsupervised in the garden or out onto the streets without restraints.
“So, while we want our customers to enjoy being outside with their pets, we also want to ask them to consider the danger unsupervised dogs pose to our colleagues.”
Dave Joyce, CWU national health and safety officer, said irresponsible dog owners were leaving themselves vulnerable to prosecutions.
“The key objective of Dog Awareness Week is primarily to remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and prevent dog attacks on postal workers who are providing them with a great public service.
“The public needs to be aware that if their dog attacks a postal worker, they can be prosecuted either by the police, local authority or by Royal Mail via a private prosecution.”
Scarred For Life
Last July, postwoman Kimberley Link was the victim of a serious dog attack while delivering mail in the Eltham area of south-east London.She was off work for six months following the attack, which led to the dog’s owner being prosecuted.
The animal was also destroyed.
The incident happened after the dog “suddenly appeared” behind its owner as the 50-year-old approached the front door to hand over mail.
Sharing her story as part of Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week, Link said: “I can remember the dog pulling me to the floor then letting go of my elbow and then trying to bite into the back of my neck.
“I had my hair in a long ponytail and a baseball cap on, so that stopped it from getting a grip on the back of my neck. The attack then stopped, I don’t know whether the customer managed to get hold of the dog and pulled him off me, but one of her neighbours appeared as she had heard me screaming.”
An ambulance rushed the postwoman to hospital, where an X-ray revealed the dog’s tooth was still lodged in her elbow.
She was transferred to another hospital where she underwent surgery to remove the dog’s tooth and repair nerve damage.
Link later underwent a third operation to remove skin from her thigh to repair her elbow.
The attack left her both physically and psychologically scarred.
“My message to any customer who owns a dog would be to never assume that their dog is going to be all right when strangers come to the door,” she said.
“Dogs are defensive of their home, so, if possible, put them in another room before opening the door to the postie because most dogs will try and push their way past their owner to the door.”
According to CWU, over 30,000 postal workers have been attacked by dogs whilst carrying out their jobs in the past decade.
The union has called on the government to “toughen up” dangerous dog laws in a bid to stop what it called “a dog attack epidemic.”
“The number of people admitted to hospital for dog bites has tripled in the past 20 years and apart from the personal costs, pain, suffering, disablement and loss of life, it costs the NHS around £75 million a year,” a CWU spokesperson said.
“NHS data shows that more than 10,000 people a year need in-patient hospital treatment after a dog attack, many more attend A&E. Many of those victims are postal workers.”
The CWU also called on judges to hand down stiffer penalties to dog owners who appear in court over attacks.
