Royal Mail launches annual Dog Awareness Week

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Royal Mail has launched the annual Dog Awareness Week (30 June-4 July) to raise understanding of the issue of dog attacks on postmen and women [and members of the public]

On average around nine postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK with over 3,300 attacks taking place from April 2013 to April 2014, an 8 per cent increase on the previous year*.

The number of attacks peaks during the school holidays

Royal Mail wants to encourage responsible dog ownership and to appeal to dog owners to keep animals under control when the postman calls

New legislation means owners can now be prosecuted for dog attacks that take place on private property

Royal Mail is working in partnership with the Communications Workers Union (Title: CWU Description: Communication Workers Union - Represents 250,000 people in postal, telecommunications and finanical services industries in the UK CWU)

The campaign is supported by a wide range of organisations and animal charities including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, National Animal Welfare Trust, The Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Dog Wardens Association

Royal Mail has also surveyed Members of Parliament about their experiences of dog attacks

A nationwide Dog Awareness Week Title: postmark Description: A marking applied to a cover to show the date and point of mailing or arrival. postmark to be applied to letters from 30 June

Royal Mail has launched its annual Dog Awareness Week, working in partnership with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) with support from a wide range of organisations and animal charities including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, National Animal Welfare Trust, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Dog Wardens Association.

Dog Awareness Week, which runs from 30 June to 4 July, aims to raise understanding of dog attacks on postmen and women and other members of public. It will highlight the need for responsible dog ownership as well as appealing to dog owners to keep animals under control when the postman calls to over 29 million addresses across the UK.

Dog attacks are a significant hazard faced by postmen and women on a daily basis.

On average around 9 postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK with over 3,300 attacks taking place from April 2013 to April 2014, some leading to a permanent disabling injury. The number of attacks has risen by 8 per cent nationally since 2012* and still remains unacceptably high and we are committed to driving this down further. Every dog attack on one of our postmen or women is one dog attack too many.

These attacks rise 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 street without restraints.

Members of Parliament, councillors, political activists and other campaigners are also at risk from dog attacks when out canvassing and leafleting in their local areas. In a survey of Members of Parliament, Royal Mail heard from more than 50 MPs who have personal experiences of dog attacks.

Donald Brydon, Chairman, Royal Mail plc said: “We are holding a second Dog Awareness Week alongside the CWU and other influential organisations to raise awareness of the problems of dog attacks and the problems our postmen and women face when they are delivering the mail.

“The campaign is going from strength to strength, with the involvement of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, the National Animal Welfare Trust and the National Dog Wardens Association.

“We know that most dogs are not inherently dangerous, however, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened. Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers. We appeal to owners to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature. It can also be simple things that help - for example just making sure the dog is kept inside when the postman calls.”

A national Dog Awareness Week postmark will be applied to all postmarked letters from 30 June to 4 July.

Dave Joyce, CWU Health and Safety Officer said; “Around 6,300 postal workers have been attacked by dogs since 2012 for simply doing their jobs. Nine postmen and women are attacked everyday – they are the largest group of dog attack victims in the UK.

“Dog Awareness Week is a fantastic way to highlight these issues to dog owners and we are pleased that it is so widely supported by animal welfare organisations. It is very worrying that the number of dog attacks has plateaued, and raising awareness is key to making sure the number of attacks falls.
“It is so important for the safety of all postmen and women that dog owners ensure their animals are secure, particularly if opening the door to sign for a parcel. Owners must be aware that it's now a criminal offence if their dog attacks the postman or woman on private property.

“The change in the law now means there will be tougher penalties and prison sentences for irresponsible dog owner. We welcome this as for too long, postal workers who offer a first class service have been subjected to reckless dog ownership leaving them vulnerable at work and unprotected when a dog attack occurred.”

Royal Mail and the CWU are continuing to work together to raise awareness of the reality of dog attacks and our main aim is to always prevent attacks. Royal Mail believes that if we feel that there is a risk from a dog, or any other animal, at an individual address, we are committed to working with the customer to agree simple steps to ensure we can continue to deliver the mail safely. Royal Mail has already issued 90,000 special posting pegs to its postmen and women in the UK, to help protect against animal bites.

Andrew Stephenson MP said; “Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week is a great way of promoting safe delivery through the use of a posting peg for delivering leaflets, which will come in useful over the next few months, as well as helping to promote responsible dog ownership.

“When I visited Pendle Delivery Office recently it was interesting to hear what Royal Mail is doing to prevent postmen and women from being attacked whilst delivering the mail and performing their important role in the community. Fortunately I have not been bitten but my mother has, so I know only too well of the pain and trauma that is experienced when someone is attacked by a dog.”

A wide range of activities will be taking place during Dog Awareness Week including;

Royal Mail postmen and women speak about their own experiences of dog attacks

Dog Awareness posters will be in place in all Royal Mail enquiry office’s giving dog owners tips on how they can help

A dedicated advice page on the Royal Mail website for dog owners at http://www.royalmail.com/dogawareness" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Opens in new window

Dogs Trust will be holding question and answer sessions on their Facebook pages with their behaviourists

Visits to delivery offices by MPs to share experiences and best practice.

Issued by
Royal Mail Press Office
Morag Turnbull
Deputy Head of External Relations
morag.turnbull@royalmail.com
0203 338 1007 / 07801 092 364
Contacts
CWU Press Office;
skimber@cwu.org
T 020 8971 7267

NOTES TO EDITORS

For broadcast opportunities, please contact the Royal Mail Press Office on 0203 338 1007.
Please visit http://www.royalmail.com/dogawareness" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Opens in new window and http://www.royalmailgroup.com/dogs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Opens in new window@royalmailnews Opens in new windowfor more information.

* Royal Mail has changed the way dog attacks are measured and last year’s reported number has been rebased using the new methodology. As a result last year’s April 2012 to April 2013 figure has been recalculated to 3,072 attacks. There has been an 8% increase to 3.311 attacks taking place between April 2013 to April 2014.

Legal Protection in England and Wales

Royal Mail welcomes changes to the Dangerous Dog Act that came into force in May. This new legislation now ensures our postmen and women will have legal protection over attacks by dogs when they enter private property, including a customer’s garden. Tougher penalties will also be imposed for irresponsible dog owners.

Previously, legal protection over attacks by dogs did not extend ‘beyond the garden gate’. This legal loophole was a particular issue for postmen and women, who each visit hundreds of private addresses every day on their delivery rounds.

The legal loophole in England and Wales was highlighted in an independent report published in November 2012, commissioned by Royal Mail Group’s Chairman Donald Brydon. The report set out the recommendations from an inquiry into dog attacks on postal workers, led by former High Court Judge Sir Gordon Langley.

The law had already changed in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Top Tips for Dog Owners

Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal staff. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.

Here are some ideas to help your postman deliver your post in safety:

Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room.

If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get round to the front when the postman calls.

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.

Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered

Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.

If your dog likes to attack your mail consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s fingers

If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.

- See more at: http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mai ... xEC20.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Scots postman tells of horror attack as Royal Mail launch campaign against dangerous dogs

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... ck-3787287" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



POSTIES are biting back against dangerous dogs after launching a crackdown to keep vicious pets under control.

A chilling toll of 344 postmen and women were mauled by dogs last year in Scotland – nearly one every day.

Now, Royal Mail bosses have launched a Dog Awareness Week to encourage owners to keep animals under control when the postman calls.

The news comes as the Daily Record’s Stop The Danger Dogs campaign notched up a number of successes.

In March, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill brought together victims, police, councils, dog groups and the Scottish SPCA in a bid to make the streets safer.

The conference was called by Alex Salmond after a meeting the Record helped arrange with the First Minister and the mums of three attack victims.

Postman Liam MacCallum, 26, from Giffnock, Glasgow, was hurt in a dog attack. He said: “I was delivering the mail when I went up to a door and I could hear a dog barking. Next thing I knew, a big German Shepherd dog came out the door at me, grabbing my hand.


“It then jumped up and went for my face. I managed to break free and started running down the road.

“It chased me for a few hundred metres before some window cleaners saw what was happening and scared it away. It was horrifying. I was covered in blood and pretty shaken up. I had to go to hospital to get stitches in my face. It has left a scar.

“Whenever I hear a dog barking, I am half expecting the animal to come tearing out at me.

“Owners should definitely take more care and be responsible for their pet.”

Royal Mail discovered attacks on their workers rise during the school holidays and in the summer when parents and children are at home and dogs are often allowed unsupervised in the garden or street without restraints. Around nine postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK, with more than 3300 attacks between April 2013 and April 2014.

Royal Mail have already issued 90,000 posting pegs – which enable delivery staff to push post through letterboxes without exposing their hands or fingers to the risk of being bitten by a dog – to posties to help protect against animal bites.

Royal Mail chairman Donald Brydon, said: “We know most dogs are not ­inherently dangerous. However, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being ­threatened.

“Our first priority is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers. We appeal to owners to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature.

“It can also be simple things that help – for example just making sure the dog is kept inside when the postman calls.”



The Communication Workers Union’s Dave Joyce said: “Around 6300 postal staff have been attacked by dogs since 2012 for simply doing their jobs.

“Nine postmen and women are attacked everyday – they are the largest group of dog attack victims in the UK.

“Dog Awareness Week is a fantastic way to highlight these issues to dog owners and we are pleased it is so widely supported by animal welfare organisations.

“It is so important for the safety of all postmen and women that dog owners ensure their animals are secure, ­particularly if opening the door to sign for a parcel.

“Owners must be aware it’s now a ­criminal offence if their dog attacks the postman or woman on private property.

“We welcome this as for too long, postal workers who offer a first class service have been subjected to reckless dog ownership leaving them vulnerable at work when a dog attack occurred.”

● National Dog Awareness Week runs from today.

[worktotime]

how very caring from the r/m topknobs to launch a dog awareness WEEK , because the other 51 weeks posties don't get attacked by dogs do they