Aberdeen posties have been set upon by pet pooches more than anywhere else in Scotland over the last year.
Despite dog attacks on postal staff dropping by around a third during the coronavirus crisis, 33 Royal Mail workers in the city were injured over the last 12 months - up from 31 the year before.
Most of the attacks happened at the front door of a house with others taking place in the garden, driveway, through the letterbox or in the street.
Across the UK, 1,690 postmen and women were attacked compared to 2,445 in 2019/20.
Brighton recorded the highest number of incidents with 58 reported to bosses.
Royal Mail launched its ninth annual Dog Awareness Week today by asking customers to keep their dogs under control at delivery times as serious injuries - including lost fingers - resulted in more than 900 days of absence in 2020/21.
Postwoman Julie Munday was off work for three months after being bitten by a customer’s dog and breaking her hip when she fell over.
She said the attack in Nantwich, Cheshire, in 2019 left her terrified if she heard so much as a bark on her delivery round.
“I spent five days in hospital. The pain was horrendous. I was subsequently off work for three months. The police decided not to prosecute the owner. Instead, Royal Mail took the owner to court. The dog’s owner received an 18-month suspended jail sentence.”
Julie added: “Following the attack, I have suffered from post-traumatic stress. As soon as I hear a barking dog, I freeze. It never used to bother me that much but I’m not as confident as I used to be.”
Dr Shaun Davis, Royal Mail Group Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability said: “We are pleased to see such a significant decrease in dog attacks on our staff this past year but we now need to build on this change, and further reduce the number of attacks on our people. So, we are asking our customers – and our colleagues - not to become complacent as there is still much work to do in bringing the figure down even further. The safety of our people is of paramount importance as they work hard to keep the UK connected.”
Communication Workers Union, National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce said: “Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postmen and postwomen across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated.
“The key objectives of Dog Awareness Week are firstly to remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and help prevent dog attacks on postal workers who have been heroes working through the pandemic as key workers. And secondly, a message to our
postmen and postwomen to be vigilant, keep safe and take no risks.”
In April, deliveries of all post, including Covid vaccination appointments, were halted to 126 homes at Thistle Court in Aberdeen city centre due to staff being intimidated by two dogs.
Royal Mail put up notices declaring deliveries were to be diverted to the Post Office at the WH Smith in Union Street while it worked with police to rectify the problem.
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