Backing for Royal Mail

Dog Awareness Week, supported by many organisations including the Communications Workers Union (CWU), highlights how postmen and women are regularly attacked by dogs when carrying out their work. In the postcode area EH, which includes West Lothian, there were 25 attacks in the past year.

I fully support the campaign to help ensure postal workers are kept safe when carrying out their work. All workers deserve to feel safe at work and postal workers are no different.

I would urge dog owners to take the advice of the Royal Mail and take steps to ensure that postal workers are protected from your dog when delivering your mail.

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.

Please ensure your dog is microchipped, wearing a collar and tag and that your contact details on the tag and microchip are up to date.