Terrier's in the dog house after third postman attack

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Terrier's in the dog house after third postman attack leaves Sawbridgeworth neighbourhood without mail

http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/ ... 060000.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NEIGHBOURS have gone without mail deliveries for weeks – because their postman is being terrorised by a terrier.

Lola, a five-year-old Jack Russell Patterdale, has escaped from her owner on three occasions and allegedly bitten the worker twice.

Royal Mail revealed that the incidents were just the tip of the iceberg in the CM postcode area, with 33 attacks having taken place in the last year.

Suspending deliveries is the company’s last resort, but on this occasion in Sawbridgeworth it has deemed that action necessary.

Lola’s owner, 44-year-old Maria Busciglio, said she was feeling “awkward” and “embarrassed” about the situation, which has affected 11 out of 19 houses in Cherry Gardens.

After Lola first escaped around this time last year, mother-of-three Maria said: “The dog warden came round and gave me a little bit of training on how to stop her getting out because she used to be really bad. She’s been much better since.”

She explained how Lola’s two subsequent escapes had been mishaps.

“The second incident, the side gate in the garden is broken so Lola pushed it and got through a gap,” said Maria, who has blocked the gap with bins. She is expecting landlord Circle Housing to repair the gate on Sunday.

Regarding the most recent incident, on April 3, Maria said: “My youngest, Callum, who’s three, opened the door. I was in the kitchen and the dog ran out. The kids said ‘Mum, Lola’s gone out’ so I’ve gone out there, I got her in and shut the door. I then went down the road after the postman and asked him if he wanted to give me the mail and he just totally ignored me.”

Maria has been so dismayed by the postman’s attitude that she is considering starting a petition against him delivering to Cherry Gardens in future.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We are investigating this matter. The postman has been attacked on three occasions and the health and safety of our staff is of the utmost importance.

“We are still seeking assurances from the dog owner that the dog in question will be kept secured while we make deliveries. We apologise to all affected customers and would like to assure them that we are working with the owner to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”

Residents have reported just one or two deliveries since Easter. In the meantime, they have to collect their mail from the town’s sorting office in Station Road.

A dog awareness week will be held by Royal Mail at the end of June, when it will publish dog attack figures and call on owners to be responsible.

Among the attacks in the CM postcode area last year, one was in Bishop’s Stortford, six in Harlow and eight in Braintree.

Earlier this week, the Government made a series of changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act, prompted by the statistic that 20 people in the UK have been mauled to death by dogs since 2005.

Someone whose dog is involved in a fatal attack can now serve a maximum prison sentence of 14 years instead of two. The sentence for an owner whose pet causes injury by attack has increased from two to five years.

[Surreypostie]

This lady is unreal, she asked if the postman wanted to give her the mail. Yes cheers love and the sack for failing to safeguard the mail and a petition to stop him delivering, just control the bloody dog.

[Geezer]

From The Comments on the Story

twilight
15/05/2014 20:13

I know this dog, I live in cherry Gardens. Im one of neighbours going without my post being delivered. This dog is horrible, it chased an adult back to her house in cherry Gardens, she panicked and jumped into her car because it was closer...she waited till the dog had gone. We have a another little girl who is terrified because the dog runs up to her barking and jumping up at her.. im worried for maria' s children, these dogs are known for turning on you.

Say's it all really

[Lounge Lizard]

From The Comments on the Story

twilight
15/05/2014 20:13

I know this dog, I live in cherry Gardens. Im one of neighbours going without my post being delivered. This dog is horrible, it chased an adult back to her house in cherry Gardens, she panicked and jumped into her car because it was closer...she waited till the dog had gone. We have a another little girl who is terrified because the dog runs up to her barking and jumping up at her.. im worried for maria' s children, these dogs are known for turning on you.

Say's it all really

"I'm worried for Maria' s children"
Yes, 44-year-old Maria Busciglio should have had either three children or Lola, not both.

[DB1100]

Another case of the dog having more brains than the owner,everybody's fault bar hers.