UPDATE: An alarming surge in dog attacks on postal workers has prompted Australia Post to issue an urgent warning to dog owners across the nation. Currently, an average of nine postal workers fall victim to dog-related incidents every day, raising serious safety concerns as the busy Christmas season approaches.
In the past six months alone, there have been over 1,190 reported incidents, with fears that this number will increase as holiday deliveries escalate. A shocking one in three of these attacks occurred on customer properties, primarily at front doors or while postal workers were delivering parcels. Additionally, 62 percent of all incidents took place on the street, with more than 80 percent involving dogs roaming freely or escaping their yards.
Australia Post’s General Manager of Safety, Russell Munro, emphasized that the actions of dog owners can significantly impact the safety of postal workers. “Our posties want to be able to deliver for our customers without fear of being attacked or chased by a dog,” Munro stated. He urged all dog owners to keep their pets securely contained during delivery times to prevent further incidents.
In cases where a postal worker feels threatened, deliveries to that property will cease. To combat aggressive dog behavior, Australia Post team members are equipped with citronella spray, which has proven effective in 90 percent of cases over the past six months. However, Munro acknowledged that aggressive dog incidents remain a serious issue, stating, “We’ve seen the number of cases increase over the past six months, which shows there’s still more work to be done to keep our posties safe.”
To mitigate risk, Australia Post advises dog owners to secure their pets in a separate room, behind locked gates, or in contained areas during delivery times. Residents are also encouraged to utilize the Australia Post app for real-time delivery updates or consider using parcel lockers as an alternative.
For further information and safety tips on securing your dog, visit auspost.com.au. As the holiday season approaches, ensuring the safety of postal workers and pets alike is more critical than ever.
