Australia Post to give posties citronella to deter dogs

Australia Post will equip postal workers with citronella spray from this month, following an “alarming” number of dog-related incidents.

It said the move follows more than 1,150 dog-related incidents in the past six months — an average of nine per day.

Spray

The citronella spray will be rolled out to posties across Australia by the end of July, beginning with the most high-risk areas.

AusPost described the spray as “non-harmful, water-based” and as a “last-line-of-defense measure to protect team members from imminent attack.”

Ahead of the rollout, AusPost conducted a trial, finding the spray was 80% effective in making dogs retreat, leaving posties “unharmed.”

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The deterrent “temporarily distracts” the dog, giving workers time to move and call for help.

Posties will be trained to use the spray “safely and only as a last resort.”

Currently, 35,000 dangerous dogs have been flagged by posties around Australia.

AusPost Safety Manager Russell Munro said: “When our people continue to end up in hospital, we have a responsibility to act”.