Royal Mail blacklist house after posties complain they were 'menaced' by 15-year-old pet dog which is deaf and crippled by arthritis

Bobby the dog found himself facing being put on the Royal Mail's blacklist for frightening postmen – even though he is deaf, crippled with arthritis and 15 years old. Owner Ann Ryan, 72, received a letter from officials threatening to stop delivering mail to her house in Stockport. They said posties were ‘being menaced’ by the pet, who is on strong painkillers for arthritis.

Postmen would stop calling if there were ‘any further incidents’ and advised her to make sure her dog did not have access to areas of her property used by the postman. Ann, 72, said she believed the warning had been issued because Bobby had simply barked at a delivery man. She said the dog was either kept on his lead or behind a padlocked iron gate and that, in the 13 years she has had him, he had never attacked anyone.



Ann, from Offerton, said: "Bobby can hardly walk with his arthritis. This letter was totally out of the blue, just because my dog barked at somebody. If a postman is frightened of a dog barking they should get a new job. Bobby is not a menace, he is good natured and exceptionally good with children. I leave my grandkids with him and he has never posed a physical threat." Ann added: "Barking is what dogs do, they do it to protect the property.

"The postman has free access onto my property and I always have my eye on Bobby, who is either on a lead, in the house or behind a locked gate. You do everything right and someone sends a letter like this. I am so angry, it is red tape gone mad." Royal Mail has now apologised for sending the letter, which was sent from the central delivery office on Green Lane in Heaton Norris.

With news video.