Leaflet dropper bitten by our terrier today through letter box

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springtime1331

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Got back from taking the dogs out to find that a letter was stuck to our front door saying that a leaflet dropper was bitten on the finger through the letter box. We went to see the lady who had taken him in and seen to his wounds but she wasn't in. Has anyone had any experience of this situation. Is it likely we will face legal action or have the police coming round to take our terrier away to be PTS?
 
Two things to do, get a cage put on inside of door to stop it happening again and on Monday call Trevor Cooper (Google for details) he specialises in dog law and is the best person to advise you xx
 
I think you'll be ok so don't worry. I am pretty sure this happens a fair bit to posties and, although not exactly pleasant it is a case of they are putting their hands in to your property and the dog is just doing 'what dogs do'. maybe think about putting one of those cages for the post to fall in to though or ensure the dog doesn't have access to the door if that is possible. If they do try legal action, then ensure you have legal help. It shouldn't go anywhere but you know what people are like these days - they will try anything to get some ££s!
 
Thanks for the advice both, feel sorry for the poor man - although I don't understand why he put his fingers through the letter box - especially as he must have heard the dogs barking behind the door. I also did a trial push through and even with a small thin piece of paper there is no need to push through with fingers! Just can do without the hassle :(
 
springtime1331 said:
Got back from taking the dogs out to find that a letter was stuck to our front door saying that a leaflet dropper was bitten on the finger through the letter box. We went to see the lady who had taken him in and seen to his wounds but she wasn't in. Has anyone had any experience of this situation. Is it likely we will face legal action or have the police coming round to take our terrier away to be PTS?
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My rottie did this a few years back! We had a policeman knock on our door later that evening to tell us. He said there was nothing he could do as it was our property but just wanted us to be aware. We put a cage on the door to catch the mail to prevent it happening again.

Hope that helps x
 
Thanks both, that is reassuring :) we have bought an external mail box to put up so hopefully it won't be able to happen again. I was also advised by a police woman (at the yard not formally) to put sticker up front and back - the I live here one rather than the caution type ones.
 
My little Yorkie used to lie in wait in my hallway for hours waiting for the postman, as soon as she heard him approaching she would work herself up into a frenzy, and as soon as the flap lifted she would grap the envelopes in her teeth and shake them, so all my post used to have her teeth marks in. I don't think she ever actually made contact with anyone's fingers but that's only because of luck. I remember hearing one postwoman effing and blinding as she walked away (she wasn't my regular one) and I'm sure I was the scourge of Lavender Hill post office.

She's showing her age now because, at 13, she just can't be bothered anymore (or just doesn't hear them).

As other's have said, it's your property so not a lot they can do - remember that awful case last year when that teenager was mauled to death at her friends house, but they couldn't prosecute the owner because of that fact.
 
Well we've been passed the man's details from the third party. Not sure if I fancy going round in person (wimp!) so thought I might write a letter, not sure what to say without saying anything I shouldn't. Or should we take flowers/ cake/ wine?
 
springtime1331 said:
Well we've been passed the man's details from the third party. Not sure if I fancy going round in person (wimp!) so thought I might write a letter, not sure what to say without saying anything I shouldn't. Or should we take flowers/ cake/ wine?
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Dear Leaflet dropper

Don't stick your fingers through letterboxes.

Have a nice day.

Signed
Dog Owner
...


Not sure what you'd say tbh, I don't think I'd be doing anything at all personally.
 
Well he was putting more like local village events leaflets, so not his actual job. Was quite strange, I've heard from the 3rd party that he put the leaflet through and it got stuck, which is strange because there is no brush on the other side. Most worryingly, the dog is question which is the most vocal dog known to man, was completely silent until he had locked on to the man's fingers for several minutes. Really doesn't sound like our boy at all. I'm not doubting it happened, as there was a tiny bit of blood on the front of the door - but surely if he had been swinging on the man's fingers for several minutes through a letter box they'd be a hell of a lot of blood. The terrier is question is very small and ahem an extremely good doer so is fairly hefty.
 
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Doubt it was several minutes and don't commit anything in writing, don't apologise as that admits fault. Maybe pop round and ask him if he's ok, but if there's no brush and no other impediment to putting a leaflet through the letterbox, I fail to see how he got bitten: how long does it take to put a leaflet through?'
 
Do not write a letter just leave it and see what happens. If you write anything your starting correspondence and asking for trouble.
 
Silly man. Hope he is ok. Get legal advice. The law was extended a few months back to cover private property so whilst i think you'll be ok, you should really know where you stand legally and not just guess. Xx
 
When I was 12 I had a paper round, and on the round was a house with a terrier who would go CRAZY and jump up at the letterbox.
Obviously in my child like ignorance I thought that this was hilarious so i tried to play tug of war with it with the paper through the letterbox.

Yes, I know.

Anyway it bit me. The house owner must have seen and rang up to complain. I got a royal *******ing from the postmaster and an even bigger one from my mum on the way to hospital. I had to write a letter of apology to the dog owner.

Insurance claims never crossed anyone's mind - how times change!
 
Do not contact the injured person yourself, notify your public liability insurance and get a cage for the door. I have dealt with these claims before.
 
Patterdale said:
When I was 12 I had a paper round, and on the round was a house with a terrier who would go CRAZY and jump up at the letterbox.
Obviously in my child like ignorance I thought that this was hilarious so i tried to play tug of war with it with the paper through the letterbox.

Yes, I know.

Anyway it bit me. The house owner must have seen and rang up to complain. I got a royal *******ing from the postmaster and an even bigger one from my mum on the way to hospital. I had to write a letter of apology to the dog owner.

Insurance claims never crossed anyone's mind - how times change!
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I, too, used to be a relief Christmas postman! (I told my girl friend I was working for the government in communications and wasn't allowed to talk about it. She was very impressed!).

The regular postman told me which houses had dogs and which liked to tear at letters. At the houses with the letter tearing dogs I was instructed to put the letters through the box and then hold on tightly. He reasoned that if the owners got enough torn letters they would get something done about the dog!

Sorry, my post is absolutely no use to the OP at all, but dogs do seem to know about postmen and act accordingly. As for the person with the bitten finger, I'd say, do, and admit to nothing. Do they have a witness?
 
i'm of no help about the legal implications of the situation but i have been posting leaflets and have very nearly lost my fingers a few times :(
i understand the OP has now sorted the problem out so it doesn't happen again so i am not having a pop at anyone but i'm surprised at the amount of unsympathetic posts for the poor man
on at least three occasions when posting leaflets i have nearly been bitten by dogs that haven't made a peep until there nearly hanging off my fingers

if i hear a dog in the house i roll leaflets up and kind of poke them though without putting my fingers in , but the easiest and quickest way of posting them is to simply push them through with your hand and if the dog hasn't barked by this point how on earth a is someone meant to know they are there

i'm sorry but i think people need to take some responsibility for there dogs and prevent them from behaving like this or getting to the door by use of a cage or something !
 
Is it wrong that I crept up to the door and stuck my hand through the letter box? :o I got some licks and love nibbles. :o Rubbish guard dogs!
 
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