Terrier tantrums halt post for nearly two months
Royal Mail deliveries have returned to normal in a street in Northampton, after they were halted for weeks when a postman was attacked by a terrier.
A blanket ban of all postal deliveries was implemented on December 7th after the postal worker was allegedly savaged by the cute bundle of fur, who is a member of the Joyce family. The attack is said to be the latest in a long line of incidents involving the terrier.
Now, nearly two months after the attack, services have been reinstated.
The family behind the furore have said that they are “devastated” by the affair. The Joyces owned four dogs – Peggy, the terrier in question, a Jack Russell/terrier cross called Molly, a Jack Russell pup named Pippy and Shrek, a pug.
However, the row has left them with only one dog. Kathleen Joyce said:
“The only dog we have now is Peggy. Molly was the one they were saying was causing all the trouble – even though she wasn’t she would not hurt a fly.”
“I was heart-broken to part with her, she had been in the family for years. She has now been sent to live with my brother in Oxford. Shrek has also been sent there. And our little Pippy who is only a puppy has been stolen.”
“People just don’t like us and we would like to move to a Gypsy site where we can just get on with our lives.”
One resident, who wishes to withhold their name, expressed relief at having the post back to normality.
Officials at Northampton Borough Council became involved in the matter. A spokesman said:
“The legal process is still continuing and we are keeping all options under review for several weeks more. This will give us time to make sure that the dog has gone and the problems have ended.”
One 60-year-old resident who did not want to be named said:
“It is such a relief to have our post back. We are so relieved to have things back to normal.”
A spokesman for Northampton Borough Council said:
“The legal process is still continuing and we are keeping all options under review for several weeks more. This will give us time to liaise with the tenant and also with local residents to make sure that the dog has gone and the problems have ended.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said:
“Postal deliveries to Dorset Gardens resumed yesterday after we received assurances that our delivery staff are no longer at risk of attack from a dog in the street.
“We would like to apologise to customers for the disruption caused to their deliveries whilst this matter was resolved.”
