We’re urging dog owners to take responsibility and properly secure their dogs, with alarming new data revealing 55 Posties a week have fallen victim to dog-related incidents in the last six months.
More than 1,420 dog-related incidents have occurred during that period, and there is an increasing number of smaller dogs showing aggressive behaviour. 50% of all incidents occur on the customer’s property, while 34% [WN1] of dog incidents occurred on the street; 8% where the dog was with their owner, and 26% involved a dog that had escaped a property.
“Australia Post is calling on dog owners to take responsibility for their pets. Customers must understand that for many Posties, it can be stressful or triggering knowing that your delivery round may involve a dog that shows aggressive behaviour. Our team members just want to be able to deliver for our customers, without being attacked, harassed, or chased by dogs.
“Regardless of the breed or temperament of your dog, we implore owners to secure their dog safely in a back garden, on a leash, or in another room when expecting parcel deliveries or mail, whether or not you are at home. If you are unable to restrain your dog securely, we suggest using our Parcel Lockers where possible.” – Rod Maule, General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing
We’re sharing some tips with dog owners to help protect Posties.
- Always keep front gates securely closed.
- Where possible, secure dogs in the back garden (rather than the front) and keep any side gates securely closed.
- If you are expecting a delivery, be careful when opening your front door, ensuring your dog doesn’t run out from behind you. Securing them in another room is a great way to prevent this.
- If properly securing your dog is not possible, consider using our Parcel Lockers.
We’re calling on Australia Post team members to share this news with their friends, family and neighbours that are dog owners. Help spread these tips and raise awareness by sharing on LinkedIn.
