No joke as posties report rising danger from dogs

Between them staff are reporting an average of two dog bites a month. This has sparked Guernsey Post to send leaflets to local householders, detailing how they can help to keep posties safe.

The leaflet can also be used as a poster to warn posties that the house has a dog.

Guernsey Post’s health and safety manager Shelley Carberry said staff were seeing an increase in dog bite incidents, averaging one a fortnight.

‘In many of these cases, the incidents occur when dog owners answer their door, inadvertently allowing their dog to run out,’ she said.

‘And we’ve noticed a rise in near misses, often happening when our posties enter gardens to deliver mail where there’s no signage indicating a dog may be present. In these situations, dogs can become protective of their territory, perceiving our posties as a potential threat.

‘We have a duty of care to protect our staff, and we’re committed to working with customers to keep our posties safe.

‘We encourage the use of designated Safeplaces for deliveries, especially where dogs are present, as avoiding knocking on the door reduces stress for both the dogs and our team.’

In a few cases the incidents have required police reports.

‘Where necessary, we work closely with customers to identify suitable alternative delivery points to ensure a safe and reliable service for everyone involved,’ she said.

The tips include securing a dog before opening the door, keeping garden gates closed to stop dogs escaping, and installing a letterbox cage, to protect posties' fingers.

In 2019, there were just three dog attacks. In 2021 Guernsey Post launched a campaign to protect posties after 14 dog attacks in 12 months.