Postman Kicks Family's Dog While Delivering Parcel; Incident Caught On Camera

A shocking incident in which a postman viciously kicked a family's dog while making a parcel delivery was caught on camera. The homeowner said seeing the pet being assaulted by the man left her daughter in tears.

The attack was caught on the doorbell camera of a house in Greater Manchester in the U.K., where the Royal Mail worker was delivering a parcel. In the video, the postman can be seen handing the parcel to a teenage girl who answered the door. A dog then runs toward him barking, 7 News reported.

As the canine approaches the man, the latter appears to kick it, sending it flying across the driveway. The pooch then runs off into the garden, and the postman walks off.

The homeowner told Manchester Evening News that the encounter left her daughter crying and the dog so terrified that it now wets itself whenever the doorbell rings. "My daughter answered the door for the delivery. I was outside hanging washing up and she ran in and told me what had happened. My daughter was very upset. She was crying her eyes out and she's not an emotional kid," the woman, who hasn't been publicly identified, said, as per the outlet. "My dog is terrified of going to the door and when the doorbell goes, he wets himself and is visibly shaking."

The homeowner said she filed a formal complaint to Royal Mail after the assault. But according to the postman involved in the incident, he kicked the dog because it nipped him in his ankle.

Royal Mail reportedly apologized to the homeowner in a letter. "We wish to again express our regret and offer our apologies once more for the upset, especially to your young daughter. Royal Mail staff are family people, with cats, dogs, and other pets and we fully appreciate what a huge part of a home they are," it wrote, according to the outlet.

Royal Mail authorities also noted in the letter that 33 of their workers are injured by dogs every week. A spokesperson working with the postal service and courier company then told Manchester Evening News that Royal Mail treats "all dog attacks on our postmen and postwomen very seriously" and prioritizes ensuring "the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers."

Meanwhile, in a statement released to the outlet, Royal Mail appealed to its customers to become responsible pet owners. "The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control. However, last year, there were 1,690 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK — some resulting in life-changing injuries. We continue to appeal to dog owners and their families to help reduce the number of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden," the company said. "Customers who would like more information about how to prevent dog attacks when the postman visits their property, can visit our website at www.royalmail.com/dogawareness."