POSTAL workers are urging residents to take responsibility for their pets after 22 dog attack incidents were reported across the borough since April.
Figures have revealed that Barnsley, especially the S71 postcode, is third worst area in the UK for dog attacks on post men and women this year.
Simon Lally, delivery line manager for Royal Mail, Barnsley, said: “We are continuously training staff on ways to deal with dog attacks.
“We really want to raise awareness with residents and members of the public to prevent future attacks and reduce injuries to our postal workers. We have sent out 175 suspension of post letters to residents in the area this year in a bid to stop dog attacks. We have a legal obligation to deliver mail but we do not want to risk the safety or our employees.
“It’s constantly trivialised but it is a real danger that post men and women deal with every day. It is not a cartoon dog chasing a cartoon postman, it is real lives that are being destroyed, through time wasted through visits to the hospital, losing money through not working and in the most severe cases losing extremities or limbs.”
Royal Mail is now working with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) on a campaign to educate dog owners and residents on the dangers that dogs pose to postal workers.
Andrew Kipling, area representative for CWU said: “The CWU estimates that up to 3,000 postal workers are attacked by dogs each year. Its outrageous that this is still happening and people need to start taking responsibility.”
The highest proportion of dog attacks on postal workers occur on the doorstep of customers’ homes.
Greg Rowan, health and safety advisor for Royal Mail, said: “All we are asking is if you have a dog to ensure that your dog is secured in a safe place so that it cannot come into contact with the postman or post woman.
“If you are not able to do so then make provisions such as an external mailbox to ensure the safety of our workers.”
South Yorkshire Police has also been working with Royal Mail to remind the public of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
If your dog bites and injures a person, you could be liable for prosecution, regardless of whether the incident has taken place in public or on private property.
PC Rebecca Robinson, a dog legislation officer, said: “Consequences of a prosecution could include the seizure of your dog and a destruction order being issued at court.
“We work closely with agencies like the Royal Mail as well, who reserve the right to suspend delivery of mail if a dog within your property is deemed a risk to their staff.
“South Yorkshire Police is working with the Royal Mail to reduce the number of dog attacks on their staff, which are unacceptably high in our region.
“Also remember that your dog is your responsibility. Dog attacks can be extremely traumatic for the victim both physically and psychologically and the consequences for the dog and owner can be devastating.”
Royal Mail is asking customers to avoid leaving dogs to roam freely in the front garden or street, and secure the dog in a safe place when you know the postman or woman is due or consider installing an external letterbox.
