After years of dealing with aggressive pet dogs, an Argyll delivery driver is taking action to try to avoid being bitten again before he retires.
Gordon Chalmers, 67, lives in Tobermory and delivers parcels on the isle of Mull.
At first glance, nobody would guess his job could be dangerous.
But Gordon and his wife Helen, 57, who helps him on his rounds, have each received nasty bites within the last 18 months.
Gordon has worked for Alistair Stevenson delivery company, Oban, for 11 years.
While nips and barking are a daily occurrence, Gordon says he experiences about one episode of “serious aggression” a year.
However, he is at pains to insist that it is not the animals’ fault.
He said: “I understand I am on their territory. Dogs are territorial. I have been doing this job for a long time. Injuries have become less frequent, because I have learned how to predict a dog’s behaviour and take defensive action.
“There is no issue with the dogs’ behaviour in public.
“When we go to a dog’s home things change. It’s a different situation when dogs are on their own patch.”
Having also previously worked as a postie, Gordon has high hopes of making it to his retirement next year without being bitten again.
But after narrowly avoiding being bitten as he delivered a parcel last week, Gordon posted a notice to his customers.
He has informed people via the Mull: Help & Information Facebook page, that if they have a dog which is allowed to run free, he will no longer be able to deliver to them.
Unless they make provision for safe delivery.
Gordon said: “Last week the dog in question was a collie. It was going to have a go. Fortunately, I had a big Amazon parcel and was able to fend it off. I was able to jump in the van and drop the parcel gently off.
“I posted on Facebook because I’m due to retire next year. I would like to retire having not been bitten again.
“The dogs’ owners were totally unaware. I am on good terms with them. We have come to an understanding about how I will deliver parcels in future.”
He added: “On some properties there are warning signs about dogs. I will message those clients and arrange a way to drop the parcels off somewhere outside the property.”
And his actions are clearly warranted.
Helen required hospital treatment when a dog bit her last year.
Gordon said: “It was a rescue dog. Helen went to the door to deliver. The dog come up behind her and bit her quite badly. The homeowner was absolutely horrified. She sent the dog back to the woman who had rehomed it with her.
“Helen needed hospital attention for a deep wound to her thigh. Antibiotics, a tetanus jab and steri strips to close the wound.”
After being around dogs her whole life, Helen is now nervous of them. She said: “I never thought I would be like that. But once you have been bitten, you are more concerned.”
These days she stays in the van if they are going to a house where they know an aggressive dog might be.
Earlier this year, Gordon was bitten by a dog he knew very well.
He said: “I don’t blame the dog, it was my fault. It is a perfectly friendly dog. I gave it a fright. I needed hospital treatment, to quite a deep bite on my arm.”
Then it was Gordon’s turn for antibiotics and a tetanus jab.
He said: “I’m sure this is not just Mull. I’m sure posties and delivery drivers all over experience it.”
Helen added: “More and more people are shopping online. It’s a problem that is not going to go away.”