11 Mail Workers Attacked by Dogs at Work Each Day in Australia

A German Shepard bares its teeth during Schutzhund attack dog training at Witmer-Tyson Imports in Newark, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2002. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Australia’s national mail carrier is pleading with dog owners to secure their dogs amid serious safety concerns for mail delivery workers.

New data released by Australia Post reveals more than 1,420 dog-related incidents have taken place in Australia in the last six months.

This equates to around 55 mail workers per week falling victim to dog-related incidents, which is 11 per day in a five-day working week.

The postal service found that one half of all dog-related incidents took place on customer property, while one in three happened at the customer’s front door.

However, 34 percent of all of these incidents took place on the street. Dogs who were with their owner at the time made up 8 percent of these incidents, while in 26 percent of cases, the dog escaped a property to “attack a postie.”

Fifteen percent of dog bites took place during letter deliveries while a postie was putting mail in the letterbox.

Australia Post said while there is no single dog breed that is more likely to attack than another but increasingly, it is smaller dogs that have been showing “aggressive behaviour.”

Queensland recorded the largest number of incidents, followed by New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Dog Owners Urged To Secure Their Pets

Australia Post General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing Rod Maule said it is important that posties feel safe doing their job.

“Australia Post is calling on dog owners to take responsibility for their pets. Customers must understand that for many posties, it can be stressful or triggering knowing that your delivery round may involve a dog that shows aggressive behaviour,” Mr. Maule said.

“Our team members just want to be able to deliver for our customers, without being attacked, harassed, or chased by dogs.”

Mr. Maule suggested if residents cannot restrain dogs securely, they should use parcel lockers where possible.

“Regardless of the breed or temperament of your dog, we implore owners to secure their dog safely in a back garden, on a leash, or in another room when expecting parcel deliveries or mail, whether or not you are at home,” he said.

“Posties will not make a delivery if it is unsafe for them to do so and will cease deliveries to a customer’s home until the danger is fixed.”

He noted Australia Post also reports dog-related incidents to relevant local councils to ensure enforcement is actioned.

Penalties For Dog Attacks Increase

Queensland has recently introduced tougher laws to deal with dangerous dogs, including possible jail terms for owners of attacking pets.

An owner of a dog that kills or seriously injures a person faces maximum fines of up to $108,000 (US$71,297) and up to three years in jail.

Five dog breeds have also been banned, including the Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier and the Perro de Presa Canari or Presa Canario.

The new penalties follow a review of the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 and recommendations of a state and local government task force.

The government also allocated $7.57 million (US$5 million) towards government action in response to dog attacks in Queensland.

Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister Mark Furner said, “Queenslanders backed these changes in their thousands, and we can say to them that the Miles Government has delivered for them—on time and as promised.”

However, Shadow Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Anthony Perrett said the bill had been years in the making.

“It took four dog attacks in one week last April and media pressure on the former premier to get the minister to adequately respond,” he said in parliament (pdf).

South Australia, NSW’s Hefty Fines For Dog Attacks

Meanwhile, South Australia has recently proposed higher penalties for “vicious dog attacks” as part of planned reforms to the Dog and Cat Management Act.

The government is currently evaluating and reviewing contributions to a consultation on the proposed Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024 (pdf).

The bill proposes to increase the penalty for dogs attacking a person or animal causing serious injury or death to $25,000 (US$16,504), up from $2,500.

If a dog owner “deliberately” encourages their pet to attack or harass an individual or animal, owners could face fines of up to $100,000 or four years in jail.

Councils would also be given more power to manage dogs that persistently wander in their districts under their changes.

Department for Environment and Water dog and cat management director Kym Pryde added, “The proposed changes are important measures to ensure breeders and owners are doing the right thing.”

In New South Wales, encouraging a dog to attack, bite, harass or chase any person or animal can result in a $22,000 fine.

If it is a “restricted” or “dangerous or menacing” dog, then the penalty is upped to a $77,000 fine and five-year disqualification from owning a dog.