Australia Post has sounded an alarm over a concerning rise in dog-related incidents, averaging 11 incidents per day over the past six months. Queensland leads the tally with 466 reported incidents, followed closely by New South Wales with 408, and Western Australia with 215 incidents.
While no specific dog breed has been identified as more prone to attacks, Australia Post highlights that smaller dogs are reported as the most aggressive culprits.
Rod Maule, Australia Post’s general manager of safety and wellbeing, emphasized the need for dog owners to take proactive measures. He expressed concern for postal workers’ safety, stating, “Our team members just want to be able to deliver for our customers, without being attacked, harassed or chased by dogs.”
Maule underscored Australia Post’s policy to prioritize employee safety, stating that deliveries to homes would be halted if conditions were deemed unsafe due to dog-related risks.
According to Australia Post’s data, half of all incidents occur on customers’ properties, with nearly a third transpiring at the front door during delivery attempts. Particularly troubling are instances where postal workers are bitten while placing mail into letterboxes, accounting for 15% of reported incidents.
Australia Post has also been vigilant in reporting these incidents to local councils for appropriate enforcement actions.
The call for responsible pet ownership comes amidst efforts to safeguard postal workers and ensure uninterrupted delivery services across the nation.
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