John Baron MP supports Royal Mail ‘Dog Awareness Week’

MP encourages responsible dog ownership to reduce attacks on postal workers

John Baron MP has today joined with Royal Mail to support its annual ‘Dog Awareness Week’ which runs from 29th June to 4th July. The week aims to raise awareness of dog attacks and encourage responsible dog ownership. Around 18 postmen and women were attacked by dogs in the Basildon and Billericay area from April 2014 to April 2015. Nationally the number of dog attacks on postmen and women has fallen by ten per cent in 2014/15, after the change in legislation and greater understanding through our dog awareness campaigns. On average around eight postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK.

Attacks tend to 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. Following last year’s campaign, across the UK there was a 13% reduction in the number of dog attacks in July and August 2014 compared to the same period the previous year.

John said:

“I fully support Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week which promotes the importance of responsible dog ownership. With 18 postmen and women attacked by a dog in my constituency last year, it is only right that they are now protected by legislation whilst they carry out their important role in the community.”