Glasgow Shettleston’s MSP, John Mason, has given his backing to a campaign launched by the Communication Workers Union and the Royal Mail. Postal staff today launched an appeal to pet owners to keep animals under control during the school holidays this summer when postmen and women call to deliver mail.

The Royal Mail recently confirmed that three hundred and twenty attacks have taken place on postmen and women in Scotland since April 2011. Postmen and women face increased danger during school and Bank Holidays when parents and children are at home with dogs being allowed unsupervised in the garden or out onto the streets without restraints. These attacks usually increase during the prolonged summer school holidays. The number of attacks has actually fallen by 9 per cent in Scotland since 2010, but it still remains unacceptably high.

The SNP MSP, who is regularly round the doors delivering his own leaflets, said:

“I am delighted to give my backing to this very important campaign.

“I sympathise with postal workers who do a great job all year-round delivering our mail. Having frequent experience of delivering my own local newsletters, I can understand first hand how daunting it is when you walk into a garden and you’re faced with a large aggressive dog.

“I myself love dogs and regularly walk my mother’s dog, Buster, but as pet owners we do have a responsibility to look after our animals and keep them under control. I would urge all constituents to get behind this campaign and back our posties.”