Wirral postmen get dog lessons after 25 animal attacks since last April

Feb 17 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL’s postmen are being given lessons in how to deal with the pets they encounter on their rounds.

The Royal Mail is organising the series of “Dog Awareness Days” after figures showed 25 animal attacks on postmen and women since last April.

Managers say dog attacks are a particular problem during school holidays, when parents and children are at home and animals are allowed unsupervised in the garden or in streets.

Postman Stephen Jafrate, from Wallasey Delivery Office, was bitten on the leg while delivering mail.

He said: “I was in a cul-de-sac when two dogs started barking, growling and circling me and one of them jumped up and bit me on the leg.

“The fear you have when the dog is circling is overwhelming.

“People need to realise that it is not funny when postmen are bitten.

“There are quite a few postmen and women that are being chased and bitten by dogs on a regular basis and they are very shaken.

“No-one should have to face that when they are just doing their job.”