People could avoid potentially having their deliveries suspended by Royal Mail by keeping a simple sign in their front window. Millions of homes are urged to display it to prevent issues with their letters and parcels.
According to the Royal Mail, pet-related injuries to postal workers can include serious bites to the hands through letterboxes and attacks from dogs that escape from houses or gardens when postal staff arrive. In response, there is a simple, free option to help everyone stay safe – including pets and posties.
Royal Mail urges dog owners to put up a simple sign in their window to alert postal workers on their local route that a dog lives at the property. Ideally, it should go in a window near the front door so it can be seen before the pet is alerted to the postie arriving.
The free printable sign is available to download on the Royal Mail website here. It reads: “I HAVE A DOG. Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door.”
Around 41% of UK households (roughly 11.5 to 12 million homes) own a dog. Royal Mail can suspend deliveries if a dog is loose, aggressive, or poses a safety risk to postal workers.
The postal service’s simple warning sign can help protect postal workers from the thousands of dog attacks that happen every year. For homes without access to a printer, a handmade sign can also work.
Dog attacks are not only dangerous but could also result in services to your address being suspended. As well as displaying the sign, dog owners are encouraged to manage their pets when expecting post or deliveries:
- Move your dog: Always put your dog in a different room or behind a gate before you open the front door
- Secure the garden: Keep all garden gates shut so the dog cannot jump out
- Hide the post slot: Put a wire cage over your letterbox. This stops your dog from biting fingers when letters are posted through
It is also suggested that distracting dogs with food or a toy while mail is being delivered could reduce their stress or excitability around postal workers. If you get frequent deliveries, it might even be worth training your dog to go to a specific “place” or bed when the doorbell rings, with a reward for staying there until the delivery is finished.
What happens if there is an incident?
If Royal Mail suspends your delivery due to a dog incident, all mail to your address will be stopped immediately and held at your local Delivery Office. This suspension can apply to just your home or to your entire street if a loose dog is deemed a threat to the postal worker.
A Royal Mail manager will typically issue a formal letter informing you of the suspension. It will outline the specific safety changes you must make before deliveries can resume, which typically include:
- Installing an external mail box at your outer gate boundary
- Fitting a secure wire letterbox cage inside your door
- Providing written assurance that the dog will be kept in a secure, separate room during delivery hours
In the meantime, ‘banned’ homes must travel to their local Royal Mail Delivery Office to collect their letters and parcels. You will need to bring proof of address and a valid photo ID.