Love your dog, but love your postie too!

During a visit to West Park Delivery Office yesterday (Fridy), Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Moor View, met post men and women who have had the misfortune of being bitten or attacked by dogs while on their rounds, in a bid to raise awareness of the effect dog attacks have.

Dog Awareness Week, which has been launched by the Royal Mail, along with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), aims to raise awareness of dog attacks on Royal Mail's postmen and women and appeal to dog owners to help keep animals under control when the postman calls.

Dog attacks are a significant hazard, faced by postmen and women on a daily basis. These attacks rise during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and dogs are sometimes allowed unsupervised in the garden, or out onto the street without restraints.

Alison Seabeck MP said: “I know first-hand the hazards of delivering post to houses with violent dogs having once been bitten through a letter box while delivering leaflets in my constituency. I am therefore more than happy to promote dog awareness week, alongside the Royal Mail.

“I would like to really encourage my constituents in Plymouth to do all they can to keep their pets under control while post men and women are out on their rounds. They shouldn’t have to constantly worry about being bitten or attacked. Love your dog, yes, but love your postie too!

“Over 2,400 postmen and women were attacked across the UK by dogs between April 2012 and April 2013, but I hope that in Plymouth we can do our best to keep the numbers down and ensure that our posties have a risk free round.”