Royal Mail postman 'kicks family dog across driveway during delivery'

Watch: Royal Mail postman kicks family dog during delivery

This is the shocking moment a Royal Mail postman is caught on camera appearing to kick a dog during a delivery.

The incident was captured by a Ring video doorbell outside a home in Greater Manchester last month.

In the footage, the postman delivers the mail then turns to kick the dog across the driveway.

The woman who lives in the home said her teenage daughter was left in tears after she answered the door.

In the clip, the postman can be heard muttering a few words before passing the parcel to the girl. The family's dog is heard barking as it runs towards the open door.

A postman appears to kick out at a dog on a driveway during a delivery in Greater Manchester. (Reach)
A postman appears to kick out at a dog on a driveway during a delivery in Greater Manchester. (Reach) (Reach)

The man appears to kick the dog, which then tumbles across the driveway before getting to its feet. The postman then leaves.

The mother says her daughter approached her in tears following the incident. She claims the dog now wets itself every time the doorbell rings.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the postman claimed the dog nipped him on the ankle, before he kicked out with a reactionary reflex.

The mother said: "My dog is terrified of going to the door and when the doorbell goes, he wets himself and is visibly shaking.

The dog went flying across the driveway after being kicked by the postman. (Reach)
The dog went flying across the driveway after being kicked by the postman. (Reach) (Reach)

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"My daughter answered the door for the delivery. I was outside hanging washing up and she ran in and told me what had happened. My daughter was very upset. She was crying her eyes out and she's not an emotional kid."

The woman said she has made a formal complaint to Royal Mail.

A letter sent to her by Royal Mail reads: "We wish to again express our regret and offer our apologies once more for the upset, especially to your young daughter.

The Royal Mail postman handed over parcels to a teenage girl before apparently kicking the family dog. (Reach)
The Royal Mail postman handed over parcels to a teenage girl before apparently kicking the family dog. (Reach) (Reach)

"Royal Mail staff are family people, with cats, dogs and other pets and we fully appreciate what a huge part of a home they are.

"That said, 33 Royal Mail staff are attacked by dogs every week and a lot of our colleagues have seen small nips, through to life-changing injuries on friends at work.

"We work closely with our health and safety team to ensure our staff are fully aware of the dangers of loose animals."

A Royal Mail spokesperson told Yahoo News UK: “We are aware of an incident in which one of our postmen was bitten on the ankle by a customer's dog in the Radcliffe area of Manchester.

“Royal Mail treats all dog attacks on our postmen and postwomen very seriously. Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.

“The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control. However, last year, there were 1,690 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK – some resulting in life-changing injuries. We continue to appeal to dog owners and their families to help reduce the number of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden."

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