Australia Post urges councils to take strong action as dog attacks on Posties continue: Northern Beaches Council Dog Attack Numbers for 2023/24 Higher than LGAs with more than twice the number of registered dogs
On Monday November 4 Australia Post called on local councils to adopt stricter measures in response to the alarming number of dog-related incidents involving Posties. New data has revealed more than 49 Posties a week have fallen victim to dog-related incidents in the past six months - an average of ten per day - with fears these numbers will continue to rise in the lead up to holiday season1.
In the past six months, 1,277 dog-related incidents have occurred nationwide, despite Australia Post’s pleas for dog owners to take responsibility for their pets. As a result, Australia Post is calling on local councils to enforce restrictions and local animal management laws to ensure the safety of Posties and the community.
The new data highlights a clear and consistent trend of aggressive behaviour, with 1 in 3 dog-related incidents continuing to occur at the customer’s front door during parcel deliveries, increasing the risk to Posties ahead of the very busy upcoming Black Friday sales and Christmas season.
To help mitigate continued threats, all Posties are equipped with a hazard device to log aggressive dog behaviour, with more serious cases alerted to councils. There are currently more than 29,000 active dog-related hazards nationally, and many are expected to stay unresolved.
Australia Post General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, Rod Maule, stressed the importance of councils implementing stronger measures to prevent dog attacks, including increased monitoring and enforcement of animal management laws.
“Dog attacks remain one of the highest safety concerns for our people. As we head into our peak season and delivery volumes increase, there is a serious concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of our Posties, particularly around dogs.
“Aggressive or dangerous dogs are reported to council and local rangers, however too often we see risks are not properly mitigated. This often leads to multiple instances of the same dog repeating aggressive behaviour, which can result in a severe attack on our Postie.
“As the holiday season approaches, dog owners need to be mindful that all visitors, including Posties, should have safe access to the front door without being stopped by a dog. Dog ownership comes with responsibilities, and we need council support to effectively enforce laws and regulations to ensure the safety of our people.”
Australia Post data reveals that Queensland continues to be the worst state in the country for dog-related incidents on Posties, and the following delivery areas have been identified as having the highest number of incidents nationally:
- Queensland (505) – Darra, Stafford, Toowoomba
- New South Wales (367) – Lidcombe, Alexandria, Ingleburn
- Western Australia (152) – Rockingham, Nedlands, Geraldton and Bunbury
- Victoria (114) – Caroline Springs, Hoppers Crossing, Mooroolbark
- South Australia (90) – Glynde, Edinburgh North, Lonsdale
- Northern Territory (24) – Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs and Palmerston
- Tasmania (22) – Launceston, Rokeby, Burnie and Hobart
- Australian Capital Territory (3) – Queanbeyan, Mitchell, Tuggeranong
Australia Post actively engages with local councils and continues to work with relevant state and territory Government Departments to advocate for changes to animal management laws to ensure they are fit for purpose and work to protect our team members.
Posties will not make a delivery if it is unsafe for them to do so and will cease deliveries to a customer’s home until the danger is resolved.
AUSTRALIA POST’S TIPS FOR DOG OWNERS:
- Always keep front gates securely closed.
- Where possible, secure dogs in the back garden (rather than the front) and keep any side gates securely closed.
- Keep your dogs leashed on the street and at a safe distance from a Postie.
- If you are expecting a delivery, be careful when opening your front door, make sure your dog doesn’t run out from behind you. Securing them in another room is a great way to prevent this.
- If properly securing your dog is not possible, consider using our convenient 24:7 Parcel Lockers.
In the Northern Beaches Council zone there has been only one quarter in the 2023-2024 reported dog attacks when this LGA did not exceed that of the Central Coast Council, an LGA with more than twice the number of Microchipped (registered) dogs. Even with comparable LGA’s, the numbers are much higher than they should be.
With dog attacks that have been reported for all quarters now finally released, overall, there have been 247 lodged with the Northern Beaches Council.
Central Coast Council had 233 dog attacks reported.
The Central Coast Council area has 87,625 more dogs than the Northern Beaches Council LGA.
The highest number of incidents for the Northern Beaches Council area was the January to April 2024 quarter, or our Summertime. The Total Dog Attack incidents reported was 73 whereas the Central Coast Council had 56 dog attack reported dog attacks.
The data required to be reported to the NSW Office for Local Government also collates the numbers for people involved in serious attacks.
A serious attack is defined as one where a person was involved AND where the injury resulted in medical treatment, hospitalisation or death.
Fortunately, there have been no reported human deaths across NSW this year, as there have been, in seven tragic incidents, over the past few years.
However, the NBC LGA recorded 45 people who have had to seek medical treatment or hospitalisation this past year, almost one every single week.
The total number of people across NSW who have been recorded as a Hospitalisation case due to a dog attack is 264. The total number of people where Medical treatment was required is 700.
The total number of dog attack incidents reported to councils for all quarters across NSW is 4,988.
The number of people impacted by less serious attacks in the Northern Beaches Council LGA is 88 – or 1.6 each week – and with an overall figure of 133 people attacked by dogs in this LGA, that is 2.5 people who have been attacked by a dog here every single week.
The statistics use the term ‘reported’ as it is well-known many dog attacks go unreported.
The numbers for dog attacks on adults and children is eclipsed by the number of animals attacked in the NBC LGA. The total number from the 2023-24 documents is 175.
Tragically a number of these are peoples’ dogs being attacked by another dog, and local wildlife being attacked by dogs. The by quarter reported attacks on (other) animals across, i.e: attacks that were not of other dogs, cats or livestock, totals 393.
Atop this, dog attacks have been responsible for the deaths of 1,044 animals this past year.
In a recent ‘From the Chamber’ report by Cr. Korzy it became apparent the NBC has a shortfall of at least 6 rangers to attend incidents and is having ongoing issues attracting and keeping rangers.
Council switched to ticketless parking fines earlier in 2024 and reported an immediate reduction in the assault and abuse of council rangers. No system that replicates this can be used in addressing irresponsible dog ownership though.
Even residents who address a dog owner whose dog is jumping all over their child, their own dog, or chasing wildlife is subjected to verbal abuse and sometimes, threats and physical attacks.
NSW coronial inquiries into those seven fatal dog attacks across the state have been held this year. There again findings pointed to councils not doing their jobs in ensuring dogs are kept on leashes where they should be, are not keeping public spaces safe for all residents; people, other dogs, and wildlife, and are not prosecuting those who break the law.
The coroner has made recommendations to the NSW Office of Local Government to lift the maximum penalty for owners who failed to register their animals, did not keep their dogs secured, and whose dogs attacked and seriously injured or killed someone.
However, wildlife rescuers and carers for wildlife that survive being attacked by dogs have been calling for mandatory prosecutions, fines and penalties, instead of warnings, for years. They state there is no point having the laws already in place to address irresponsible pet ownership if these are not the first recourse when a dog is found where it should not be, a wildlife protection area for instance, and attacks in the form of ‘chasing/hunting’, or maims or kills.
In this they are alike dog owners whose own much-loved pet has been maimed or killed by another dog through its owners’ actions and attitude.
The Northern Beaches Council area dog attack incidents 2023-2024 by quarter, and all the dog attacks numbers across the whole state, run below, for the record.
1 July 2023 to 30 September 2023
Northern Beaches Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 65
- No of people involved in serious attacks 9
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 28
- Total number of people attacked 37
- Total animals attacked 45
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 71,528
Compare Central Coast Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 63
- No of people involved in serious attacks 15
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 46
- Total number of people attacked 61
- Total animals attacked 51
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 156,443
Serious Attacks NB: These are attacks where a person was involved AND where the injury resulted in medical treatment, hospitalisation or death.
Total number of dog attack incidents reported to councils in the 1st Quarter of 2023/24 1,244
Number of victims
- Adult 674
- Child (Child is up to 16 years) 110
- Dog 671
- Cat 51
- Livestock 204
- Other (animal) 94
*Note: As a single attack may involve multiple victims the totals in this category may exceed the total number of reported attacks
Number of injuries on people
- Minor injury 197
- Medical treatment required 158
- Hospitalisation 68
Number of injuries on animals
- Minor injury 195
- Medical treatment required 232
- Hospitalisation 54
- Death 245
1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023
Northern Beaches Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 47
- No of people involved in serious attacks 8
- No of people involved in less serious attack 18
- Total number of people attacked 26
- Total animals attacked 34
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 72,178
Compare Central Coast Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 54
- No of people involved in serious attacks 7
- No of people involved in less serious attack 27
- Total number of people attacked 34
- Total animals attacked 43
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 157,799
Total number of dog attack incidents reported to council in the 2nd Quarter of 2023/24 1,213
Number of victims
- Adult 702
- Child (Child is up to 16 years) 108
- Dog 596
- Cat 55
- Livestock 156
- Other (animal) 87
Number of injuries on people
- Minor injury 219
- Medical treatment required 183
- Hospitalisation 83
Number of injuries on animals
- Minor injury 155
- Medical treatment required 207
- Hospitalisation 55
- Death 248
1 January 2024 to 31 March 2024
Northern Beaches Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 73
- No of people involved in serious attacks 14
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 20
- Total number of people attacked 34
- Total animals attacked 57
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 72,832
Compare Central Coast Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 56
- No of people involved in serious attacks 19
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 27
- Total number of people attacked 46
- Total animals attacked 29
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 159,542
Total number of dog attack incidents reported to council in the 3rd Quarter of 2023/24 1,236
Number of victims
- Adult 687
- Child (Child is up to 16 years) 121
- Dog 624
- Cat 58
- Livestock 112
- Other (animal) 110
Number of injuries on people
- Minor injury 232
- Medical treatment required 191
- Hospitalisation 60
Number of injuries on animals
- Minor injury 174
- Medical treatment required 190
- Hospitalisation 58
- Death 221
1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024
Northern Beaches Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 62
- No of people involved in serious attacks 14
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 22
- Total number of people attacked 36
- Total animals attacked 39
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 73,440 (NB: an increase of 608 dogs)
Compare Central Coast Council
- Total dog attack incidents reported 60
- No of people involved in serious attacks 13
- No of people involved in less serious attacks 34
- Total number of people attacked 47
- Total animals attacked 55
- Number of Microchipped dogs in LGA 161,065 (an increase of 1,523 dogs)
Total number of dog attack incidents reported to council in the 4th Quarter of 2023/24 1,295
Number of victims
- Adult 701
- Child (Child is up to 16 years) 92
- Dog 686
- Cat 69
- Livestock 262
- Other (animal) 102
Number of injuries on people
- Minor injury 229
- Medical treatment required 168
- Hospitalisation 69
Number of injuries on animals
- Minor injury 214
- Medical treatment required 243
- Hospitalisation 69
- Death 330
Office of Local Government Dog Attack data available at: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/dogs-cats/responsible-pet-ownership/pound-and-dog-attack-statistics/
[1] Australia Post Dog Safety data, 30 April 2024 to 30 October 2024