AN EX-FIFE postie and former Dunfermline councillor says he doesn’t blame the dogs after being bitten numerous times on the job.

Garry Haldane has been bitten by dogs when out doing his postman rounds, and the last two dogs to bite him were both German Shepherds that were put down by their owners.

This comes after the Communications Workers Union (CWU) attended a crucial meeting with the Scottish Government on September 20, to discuss reforms to Scotland’s dangerous dogs legislation.

The CWU is deeply dissatisfied with the lack of progress in strengthening the laws that are meant to protect the public—particularly postal workers—from violent dog attacks.

On one of the occasions, Garry was bitten by a dog on the leg. Speaking of that experience, Garry said that the dog’s owner was “scared it could have been a child at the door, so got it [the dog] put down.

“That was the first time the dog had done that, and she wasn’t prepared to let it happen again.

“Every dog is capable of it and it’s the owner’s responsibility.

READ MORE: Postie blames owners for dog attacks

“I know in Scotland the laws are slightly different to England and it’s slightly easier to get a prosecution.

“But even now I don’t blame the dog. I have always blamed the owners, the owners not understanding the type of dog they have got and giving it enough exercise.

“The dog is only doing what a dog does.”

The CWU is calling for immediate changes to dangerous dogs legislation. This includes a comprehensive review and strengthening of the law governing dangerous dogs, improved enforcement, ensuring that dog owners are held accountable, and the abolition of the “one free bite” rule.

Garry told the Press that guidance from the Royal Mail for postmen and women is that if they are unsure about a dog at all, then not to deliver to that address. It is up to the individual postie whether they want to go in or not.

He added: “A dog is only doing what a dog does, it’s protecting it’s own area.

"It all comes down to a dog just being a dog.

“You need to know the dog and give the dog the correct training. It’s an offence for you not to have your dog under control, that in itself is ambiguous.”

Garry would like the guidance on having a dog under control to be clearer. As it is, a person can have their dog off-lead but say that it is under control as the dog will return to them when they call it.

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The issue has become more prominent since the a dog attack in Oban earlier this year, in which postal worker Kirsteen Hobson was injured.

Craig Anderson, Scottish secretary of the CWU, commented: “Postal workers deliver vital services to Scotland’s communities, and they deserve protection while carrying out their work.

"The recent attack on Kirsteen Hobson is just one of many cases where irresponsible dog ownership has led to serious injury.

“The time for talk is over; the Scottish Government must take meaningful action to protect our members and the public from dangerous dogs.”

“If he’s [a dog] attacked once, he’s going to attack again, you are then allowing that dog to do that because you haven’t taken measures to stop it.

“The wee ones are just as aggressive as the big ones, it’s not the size of the dog or the breed of the dog.” Garry added.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is hosting a responsible dog ownership summit to consider how dog control and dog welfare can be improved.

"We want every dog owner to understand and fulfil their responsibilities.”