UK POST OFFICE WORKERS BACK DANGEROUS DOGS BILL.

UK POST OFFICE WORKERS BACK DANGEROUS DOGS BILL.The biggest union for the communications industry, the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU), has given its full backing to SNP MSP Alex Neil’s proposed Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

The CWU is looking for similar Bills to be introduced elsewhere in the UK to protect its members, Postal Mail and Parcel delivery workers and other couriers and utilities workers, from out of control dogs.

The proposed Bill, which is due to be published early in 2009, aims to protect people, other dogs and their owners from out of control dogs with the current Dangerous Dogs Act legislation ineffectual.

Control orders, dog ASBOs, will be issued by courts to the owners of dogs who are in the eyes of police or local authorities out of control or dangerous. The dog will be micro-chipped to track its future behaviour and the owner will be instructed to carry out a range of measures to improve their pet’s behaviour.

Giving their support to the bill Dave Joyce, the National Health, Safety and Environment Officer for the CWU said:

“The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act has done nothing to reduce attacks. It provides little protection for Postal and communication workers. We are giving our full backing to Alex Neil’s proposed Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill. We are calling for cross party support when the Bill comes before the Scottish Parliament in order to facilitate the swift passage of the Bill on to the statute book and want the rest of the UK to follow the Scottish lead"

"Following one of the worse ever dog attacks on a Postman last December, the CWU launched its "Bite-Back" campaign aimed at raising the profile of the serious problem Postal workers face in the UK with 5000 - 6000 dog attacks every year, many of which result in serious injuries.

“We want to see more realistic penalties handed down by the courts when prosecutions take place with owners of aggressive dogs being held to account. My Union is not anti-dog or anti any specific bread of dog, the overwhelming majority of which cause no problem at all. However, there are a significant number of aggressive dogs and irresponsible owners which need to be dealt with”

Postman Paul Coleman spent 6 days in Hospital and intensive care with serious leg, arm and chest injuries, undergoing a series of operations and skin grafts following an attack by two dogs whilst delivering mail last Christmas. At one stage doctors feared he would lose his right arm which has serious nerve and muscle damage but surgeons managed to save it. Coleman's left leg bite injuries went down to the bone and there was considerable blood loss.

Paul said

"When I was told by my Union that the Scottish Parliament were going to introduce a new law I was extremely pleased and I hope that every person who lives and works in the UK will in the near future feel safer as a result of politicians listening and addressing the problem. Hopefully the new law will show those people who own dangerous dogs that they face jail and substantial fines if their dogs do to someone what those two dogs did to me last Christmas whilst trying to deliver peoples letters and Christmas cards."

Alex Neil MSP says he is delighted his Bill is receiving the support of the CWU:

“Having the support of the CWU is very important because it demonstrates the Bill I am trying to introduce will make a real difference.

“It is a common joke, up and down the land that Posties are scared of dogs, unfortunately having fingers nipped off or a chunk bitten out of your legs is a very real threat for delivery workers. These things do happen and until we introduce legislation to control the behaviour of dogs they will continue to happen.

“Innocent dog owners have nothing to worry about with this Bill. This Bill is aimed at the owners of dogs who are letting their animals get out of control or are encouraging dangerous behaviour from their dogs.

“Unfortunately we have situations up and down the country where people use dogs as weapons, breed and train them to be aggressive and there is no legislation to protect people or other animals from them. Rather than waiting for someone to get hurt this will allow the police and local authorities to protect people.”