Australia Post issues warning as dog attacks on posties skyrocket
- Replies 41
It’s the busiest time of the year for posties all over the world.
As the holiday season approaches and the number of parcels being sent increases, Australia Post issued a stern warning to pet owners following a significant increase in dog attacks on postal workers.
The surge in incidents has raised concerns about the safety of posties, who are now facing a higher risk of injury during their daily rounds.
Every week, more than 50 postal workers across Australia are reportedly subjected to dog attacks, with Queensland and New South Wales witnessing the most significant rise in incidents.
The suburbs of Tamworth, Nepean, and Alexandria in NSW, Stafford and Darra in Queensland, and Rockingham in Western Australia have been identified as the hotspots for dog-related incidents on a national scale.
Queensland recorded the highest number of attacks at 321, closely followed by NSW with 306 incidents.
WA reported 177 dog-related incidents, while Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania recorded 103, 68, 9, and 5 incidents respectively.
In light of these alarming figures, Australia Post urges pet owners to ensure their dogs are securely contained, especially during delivery hours.
Rod Maule, Australia Post's General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, emphasised that most attacks occur at the front door when posties attempt to deliver packages.
'It takes just a second to secure your dog in another room, and it makes the world of difference to our team members,' Maule said.
'This is our busiest time of year, in fact, in all metro capitals and some regional cities and towns we are now delivering up to seven days a week, so it’s more important than ever to keep dogs secure.'
'We know our customers are eager to get their deliveries. However, our team’s safety comes first and if it’s not safe for our posties to approach a home, then they won’t be able to deliver.'
Australia Post is committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and has implemented several preventative measures to reduce dog attacks.
These include a digital hazard tracker that allows posties to log the location of a dangerous dog, alerting other staff members and enabling them to either avoid the house or exercise extra caution during delivery.
Animal behaviour veterinarian Dr Tracey Henderson explained that environmental changes, such as increased home activity due to deliveries, guests, and last-minute maintenance, can trigger fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.
This heightened emotional state can lead to an increased risk of aggression, bites, and attacks.
'When cortisol levels are elevated, dogs find it hard to regulate their response to things that threaten or frighten them, which in turn can result in an increased risk of aggression, bites and attacks,' Henderson explained.
'Even dogs that are ordinarily calm, friendly or welcoming can show uncharacteristically protective or aggressive behaviours when experiencing prolonged periods of stress.'
What are your thoughts on this warning from Australia Post, dear members? Let us know in the comments below.
As the holiday season approaches and the number of parcels being sent increases, Australia Post issued a stern warning to pet owners following a significant increase in dog attacks on postal workers.
The surge in incidents has raised concerns about the safety of posties, who are now facing a higher risk of injury during their daily rounds.
Every week, more than 50 postal workers across Australia are reportedly subjected to dog attacks, with Queensland and New South Wales witnessing the most significant rise in incidents.
The suburbs of Tamworth, Nepean, and Alexandria in NSW, Stafford and Darra in Queensland, and Rockingham in Western Australia have been identified as the hotspots for dog-related incidents on a national scale.
Dog attack incidents on posties have risen. Image source: Freepik.
Queensland recorded the highest number of attacks at 321, closely followed by NSW with 306 incidents.
WA reported 177 dog-related incidents, while Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania recorded 103, 68, 9, and 5 incidents respectively.
In light of these alarming figures, Australia Post urges pet owners to ensure their dogs are securely contained, especially during delivery hours.
Rod Maule, Australia Post's General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, emphasised that most attacks occur at the front door when posties attempt to deliver packages.
'It takes just a second to secure your dog in another room, and it makes the world of difference to our team members,' Maule said.
'This is our busiest time of year, in fact, in all metro capitals and some regional cities and towns we are now delivering up to seven days a week, so it’s more important than ever to keep dogs secure.'
'We know our customers are eager to get their deliveries. However, our team’s safety comes first and if it’s not safe for our posties to approach a home, then they won’t be able to deliver.'
Australia Post is committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and has implemented several preventative measures to reduce dog attacks.
These include a digital hazard tracker that allows posties to log the location of a dangerous dog, alerting other staff members and enabling them to either avoid the house or exercise extra caution during delivery.
Animal behaviour veterinarian Dr Tracey Henderson explained that environmental changes, such as increased home activity due to deliveries, guests, and last-minute maintenance, can trigger fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.
This heightened emotional state can lead to an increased risk of aggression, bites, and attacks.
'When cortisol levels are elevated, dogs find it hard to regulate their response to things that threaten or frighten them, which in turn can result in an increased risk of aggression, bites and attacks,' Henderson explained.
'Even dogs that are ordinarily calm, friendly or welcoming can show uncharacteristically protective or aggressive behaviours when experiencing prolonged periods of stress.'
.png){kind=icon}
