Call to punish 'bad' owners

Postmen are being forced to quit their jobs after a string of attacks from dogs.

Pete Boswell, of the Oxfordshire Branch of the Communication Workers' Union, which is helping an Oxford postman pursue a claim against a dog owner, said: "It does happen quite often.

"I would say at least once or twice a week in Oxfordshire," he added. "You can't blame the dog, you have got to blame the owners."

A woman had to leave her job as a postie in Banbury earlier this year when she was bitten in the face by a dog on her rounds.

Mr Boswell said: "She loved her job but just had to leave. She was really traumatised by it. She couldn't bear going back to work. It can really affect people.

"The Post Office is going to take it seriously. We could have a policy that if a dog tries to attack a postman, they will write to the owner and threaten to withdraw mail deliveries."

He said Banbury was the worst area in Oxfordshire for postmen being bitten by dogs.

Mr Boswell said: "It can be extremely frightening. It's a bit of a laugh with lots of people but it's no joke when you get bitten.

"I have been myself and it really shakes you up. Having your flesh ripped by a dog's teeth is not a nice experience at all - even a close shave."

The CWU is helping the Oxford postman, who works from the Headington sorting office, with a claim after he was allegedly attacked by an Alsatian while on his rounds in Elsfield.

He said he was bitten on the thigh and thumb and it is believed he is the second postman the dog has sunk its teeth into.

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