A safe home is our top priority for your family, and we know for many of you, this includes your cherished dogs.
Unfortunately, some of our colleagues have recently been threatened by dogs while visiting customers’ homes, and another has been bitten.
We know this is the last thing any dog owner would want to happen, and even the friendliest dog can become protective when a stranger enters their home.
This is what happened when one of our surveyors was working at a property recently. We spoke to him about what happened on the day and how it’s impacted him since.
What happened when you arrived at the customer’s home to complete a survey? What was the first sign that something was wrong?
“When I arrived at the property I could hear several dogs barking when I knocked on the door but had been put into another room before they opened the door for me. Just as the front door closed behind me the dogs had already escaped from the kitchen and ran toward me and started jumping up on me. The same happened again a few minutes later but this time I could hear one of the more aggressive dogs running and barking upstairs towards where I was.”
How did you feel in the moment and did you have to take any action to protect yourself?
“I knew I was in danger and that the dog was coming for me rather than curious. I was on the landing so closed myself into the closest bedroom to get out of harms way.”
What action did the customer take?
“The customer then placed the dog back into a closed room. But this took some time as they had little control over their dog.”
How has this experience affected you in the days and weeks since it happened and has it changed your approach to your job?
“It made me feel uncomfortable knowing how quickly a situation could escalate. I also felt bad for the customer, having had to explain that I’d have to leave the property as it was unsafe. I am a big fan of dogs but I am now more cautious when I encounter them.”
What would you like to ask customers to do with their dogs before you attend their home if they have pets?
“Please make us aware before entering the property that dogs are present. Even if your dogs are friendly please be willing to put them away. Make sure that if they are outside/in another room that they are secure and cannot escape.”
For the the safety of our colleagues – and your canines:
- Please keep your pets in a separate, secure, and comfortable room before our colleagues enter your property. We’ll give you as much notice as possible before a planned visit, and when you are scheduling an appointment, our team will remind you of this requirement.
- If an emergency repair is needed, please secure your dog before answering the door to our team.
- Keep your dog secure for the entire duration of our visit. This protects your dog by preventing accidents involving our equipment too.
Remember
Under the law, your dog is considered ‘dangerously out of control’ if it injures someone or makes someone fear they might be injured, no matter what breed it is. This can have serious consequences for everyone, including your dog.