Postwoman Describes Sudden Attack
Royal Mail worker Katy Davies said she would 'never quite be the same' after a horror dog attack that left her with permanent physical and mental scars. The incident occurred in January this year while Davies was on her usual delivery route in Bristol.
The dog, which she had known for years and had never shown signs of aggression, suddenly 'clamped' onto her leg, knocking her off her feet. The bite caused five puncture wounds, two of which required stitches, along with tendon damage.
Attack Happened 'So Quickly'
Davies, who has been a postwoman for around three years, said the attack happened so quickly that she had no time to react. The dog approached her at speed from behind as she turned a corner into a shared driveway area.
She said: 'I suddenly felt the impact as it clamped on to my lower leg, knocking me off my feet. Before I knew it, I was on the ground in severe pain.'
Long Recovery and Lasting Impact
Davies couldn't walk unaided for around three weeks, couldn't drive for approximately three months, and was off work for three months while she recovered. The wounds later became badly infected, making an already painful recovery even more difficult.
'One of the puncture wounds took weeks, if not months, to heal properly, and I still live with the effects of the injury today,' she said. 'I'll never quite be the same person I was before. The scars on my leg are permanent, but the mental scars run much deeper.'
Warning to Dog Owners
Davies said she is not frightened of dogs but has become much more cautious. She urged dog owners not to take risks, even with pets that have never shown aggression before.
'My message to dog owners is simple: please don't take any risks. Your dog may be the friendliest dog in the world, but animals can act unpredictably. Keeping your dog safely secured before opening the door or accepting a delivery can prevent serious incidents from happening.'
Royal Mail Figures Show Decline but Still High
Royal Mail said while the number of dog attacks on workers has fallen over the past year, it was still 'unacceptably high'. New figures show there were 2,019 dog attacks on Royal Mail staff, an eight per cent decrease compared to the previous year. Some attacks resulted in permanent and disabling injuries.
For the second consecutive year, the S (Sheffield) postcode recorded the highest number of incidents. Two postcode areas were ranked joint second — DN (Doncaster) and GU (Guildford) — followed by NE (Newcastle) and PO (Portsmouth) in joint third place.
Around half of the attacks happened at the front door, while one in four incidents took place in a garden, drive, or yard. There were 135 attacks in the street or road and 324 injuries suffered as a result of attacks through a letterbox.
Royal Mail's Call for Action
Lizz Lloyd, health and safety director at Royal Mail, said: 'While it's encouraging to see dog attacks on our colleagues fall by eight per cent last year, these incidents remain a serious risk to postal workers, resulting in painful injuries and lasting distress. We continue to raise awareness of the issue among the public, but preventing attacks starts at the doorstep. We're urging dog owners to take simple steps, such as keeping pets secure before opening the door, to help keep our people safe.'
