Delivery ban after Rottweiler chased Arbroath postie

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Deliveries to homes in Arbroath were halted for 10 days by Royal Mail after a postman was chased down the street by a Rottweiler.

The postie had to jump a fence to escape the dog in Howard Street, leading Royal Mail bosses to stop deliveries to 25 homes there and in adjacent Cairnie Street.

Services resumed at the beginning of this week after the dog’s owner promised to keep the pet under control and, despite criticism of the blanket delivery ban, mail chiefs said they will not hesitate to take similar action if any postie is considered to be at risk.

Residents were told of the mail suspension in a letter from the local delivery manager revealing details of the August 8 incident.

It said that the postman was “confronted by a Rottweiler and chased down Howard Street whereby he had to jump a fence to escape”.

The letter added: “An internal risk assessment was carried out following this and has highlighted an unacceptable level of risk associated with delivering to your address at this time . . . due to the seriousness of the incident, I’m sorry to advise that deliveries will be suspended with immediate effect.

“This exceptional step has been taken to safeguard the health and safety of my staff.”

Residents were told to collect their mail from the town’s Hill Street delivery office, taking proof of identity with them.

One resident said his elderly mother had been upset by the cessation of deliveries, and questioned the need for so many homes to be included in the ban.

The resident added: “It wasn’t her Rottweiler and yet the letter says that she should ensure the dog is restrained at all times.”

Royal Mail spokesperson Felicity MacFarlane said: “Royal Mail can confirm that deliveries were temporarily suspended on August 8 to 25 properties in Howard Street and Cairnie Street, Arbroath, after our postman was threatened by a dog.

“Following an undertaking by the owner of the dog to have the gate repaired so the dog is safely contained, deliveries recommenced on Monday August 18.

“The safety and welfare of our staff is paramount and we only suspend deliveries if the safety of our postmen and women is at risk, as a last resort.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to other affected customers.

“However, more than 3,000 postmen and women are attacked by dogs each year and we urge customers to take responsibility for keeping their pets under control so that we can deliver mail safely.”