Posties to carry citronella spray for combating dog attacks

Posties across Australia will carry citronella spray to combat an explosion in the number of dog attacks.

Australia Post announced the measure today as figures showed during the past six months, there were 44 dog attacks every week on its workers delivering mail - equivalent to nine daily.

The corporation says it has appealed to dog owners to secure their animals during deliveries, but needed to equip posties with a deterrent.

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The non-harmful, water-based citronella spray has been introduced as a last line of defence to protect workers from imminent attack.

Australia Post says in trials the spray was 80 per cent effective in distracting a dog, giving posties enough time to escape unharmed.

Australia Post's general manager of safety, Russell Munro, said keeping frontline staff free from physical and psychological injury was a top priority.

"Despite public awareness efforts and rigorous safety protocols, we continue to see alarming rates of dog-related incidents," he said.

"The best way to avoid dog attacks is to ensure your dog is safely secured behind a locked door or gate when your postie arrives with your parcel."

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Nearly 40 per cent of dog attacks on posties took place on a person's property – half of those when a front door is opened for a parcel delivery.

Among the dog attack hotspots was the northern NSW town of Moree, where high numbers of roaming and unrestrained dogs has created dangerous conditions.

The deployment of citronella spray will prioritise high-risk regions first, with all posties to be equipped with the spray by late July.

Parcel delivery drivers will then be trained how to use the spray safely and only as a last resort.

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