MP bitten by dog while posting election leaflets

An MP has called on pet owners to keep dogs away from letter boxes after he was bitten while delivering leaflets.

Exeter Labour MP Steve Race said he had needed hospital treatment after his finger was bitten by a dog as he posted campaign material.

He is backing a campaign by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Blue Cross charity urging dog owners to make sure pets are not a risk to people delivering to their homes.

He said: "I have had a bit of a taste of what postal workers and delivery workers have every day of their lives."

Race said he had needed treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after being bitten on 1 May.

He said an X-ray had found a bone in his little finger was chipped and debris from the dog's mouth was in the wound.

Race said many people were unaware they could be prosecuted if their dog attacked a delivery person - even if the contact was made via letter box.

"I'm working with the CWU and the Blue Cross to showcase the online resources that are available to help dog owners to effectively manage this risk," he added.

Two other politicians have also been attacked by dogs in Devon and backed Race's call for more responsible dog ownership.

Former North Devon Conservative MP Selaine Saxby said she had been door-knocking last May when someone's pet took "a chunk" out of her leg.

She said the dog had come out of the back door of a house she knocked at but there had been no sign on the gate suggesting dogs were running loose.

"The height of the bite was that of a child's face - and it would have been very different if it had been a child," she said.

She said she had needed hospital treatment and had been left feeling more nervous of dogs after the attack.

"We have people delivering to our homes every day and it should be safe for posties and deliveries. If not, there should be signs and a box at the end of the drive," she added.

Torbay Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling, whose guide dog Jennie suffered injuries after being attacked by an American XL bully, said he wanted work done to prevent all dog attacks, not just those on delivery people.

He said on a separate occasion he had been bitten by a small terrier and believed the safety issue was not about specific breeds but about socialisation and tighter laws around dog control.

"At the time Jennie was attacked, there was a lot of furore surrounding XL bullies, but I do not believe it is about banning a breed - it is about correct socialisation of dogs and responsible ownership," he said.

Kerry Taylor, education manager at the Blue Cross, said: "Every year thousands of postal workers are injured by dogs.

"Most of these situations could have been prevented and most of these dogs are family pets that owners never dreamt could scare or harm anyone."

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