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Royal Mail/CWU Dog Awareness Week 4 – 10 July 2022

Royal Mail Group/ CWU Dog Awareness Week launches on Monday and I’m asking for the full support of all ASRs and WSRs in all functions – please raise awareness and get the messages to members and customers/householders with Dogs.

We are especially focusing on dog bites through the letterbox this year as we’ve had a series of these attacks and serious Letterbox bite injuries.

The message is ‘DON’T PUT YOUR FINGERS THROUGH THE LETTERBOX’

Launching the 2022 National Dog Awareness Week, CWU National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce has called upon UK dog owners to be more responsible and keep their animals under control and has called on the government to toughen up the Dangerous Dogs Lawsand enforcement.

Dave Joyce said:

“Dog Attacks remain a Major Safety Hazard and concern for Postmen and Women across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated – 35,000 Postmen and Women have been attacked by dogs in last decade! Over 80% at the front door. 30 – 40 postal workers attacked every week.

Dave added:

”I am very concerned about the continuing dog attack epidemic. The number of people admitted to hospital for dog bites has tripled in the last 20 years and apart from thepersonal costs, pain, suffering and disablement, it the costs the NHS over £70 million a year.

NHS data shows that more than 10,000 people a year need hospital treatment after a dog attack and many of those are postal workers."

Quoting official figures, he said:

“There have been 56 recorded dog attack deaths in the UK from 1986 to 2022 and 6 people have already been mauled to death by dogs this year so it’s a big concern for Postal Workers.

“The unacceptably high prevalence, scale and volume of dog attacks plus the impact on victims, which can be life changing, is nothing less than a ‘national crisis.’

“I have written to the DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice calling for a meeting to discuss what the more the government and police can do to toughen up the Dog Control Laws and enforcement – such is my concern.”

In closing the CWU National Officer explained the idea of the week:

“The Key Objectives of Dog Awareness Week are primarily to remind the Public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and prevent dog attacks on victim Postal Workers who have been heroes working through the pandemic as essential workers, delivering the mountain of goods to the public ordered on-line during the high street lockdowns and secondly is a message to our Postmen and Women to be vigilant, keep safe and take no risks.”

Click above to go to PDF copy of slides

Source: CWU / Royal Mail

You can download documentation on Dangerous Dogs from the Unionsafety E-Library

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