POSTIES across the nation are under attack, according to recent data from Australia Post, and the culprit is their age-old nemesis – the unrestrained and aggressive neighbourhood dog.
Alarmingly, 47 posties are encountering these unsociable K9s each week – an average of nine every day – while more than 1,200 dog-related incidents have been reported nationwide in the past six months, marking an increase of five per cent on the same period last year.
Raising serious concerns for the safety and wellbeing of frontline team members, the majority of incidents – despite repeated warnings – occur when dogs are not properly secured during deliveries.
Almost two-thirds of incidents happen on the street after a dog escapes a property or is roaming freely, with more than a third of those incidents involving posties being chased down the street. More than a third of all incidents take place on a customer’s property, often as a postie approach or leaves the front door after making a delivery.
Australia Post General Manager Safety, Russell Munro, said dog-related incidents remain a serious and persistent safety risk for posties.
“Posties encounter multiple dogs every day while delivering, and some can pose a real safety risk. What seems like a routine delivery can quickly escalate, and our posties can’t predict how a dog may react, regardless of breed or temperament.
“Our posties are working hard to deliver parcels safely and on time, and it’s worrying to see the number of incidents increasing. With 9.8 million Aussies shopping online, deliveries and interactions at the front door are more frequent, creating highly stressful situations for dogs and increasing the risk for our team,” Mr Munro said.
Despite this alarming increase in K9 encounters, citronella sprays – a last line of defence – continue to play an important role in protecting posties. Citronella, a non-toxic, water–based deterrent, was introduced last year.
