Posties hot under the collar over dogs

A DOG owner is barking mad after a post office refused to deliver his letters until he agreed to keep his dogs behind closed doors. Barry Brame, of Avocet, Letchworth GC, said he was sent a letter telling him that delivery of his post would be stopped unt

A DOG owner is barking mad after a post office refused to deliver his letters until he agreed to keep his dogs behind closed doors.

Barry Brame, of Avocet, Letchworth GC, said he was sent a letter telling him that delivery of his post would be stopped until he agreed that his two rottweilers, Lilly and Tallulah, were kept inside during delivery.

Mr Brame, 60, said although his pets were not a threat to the postman's safety he had no choice but to agree with the request.

He said: "He has been our postman for some time now and has never mentioned my dogs being a problem in the past. Each time the postman comes up the drive the dogs are wagging their tails. They don't bark or anything.

"Even after I promised I would keep the dogs inside they still held on to my post for some time.

"It means I have to keep them inside and that could be all morning. Sometimes the postman doesn't come until much later in the day. I fear that if I let them out of the garden and the postman comes round the corner it could all start up again.

"I've done all they asked. I can quite understand postmen worrying about being bitten by dogs, their safety is paramount, but these dogs are no harm to him whatsoever.

"This has all been an over-reaction."

A spokesman from the post office said: "Royal Mail suspends deliveries as a last resort but the health and safety of our workforce has to be a prime concern.