A WEST FIFE postie was taken to hospital after a dog attacked her and punctured her jaw.

The woman was delivering a parcel to an address in Rosyth last month when the dog jumped at her, bit her face and drew blood.

Garry Haldane, a postman for more than 25 years, has been calling for greater protection for postal workers ever since he spoke to the Press in 2011, when he said he had been bitten 17 times during his career.

He told the Press he had been bitten badly on the back of his arm by a German Shepherd at a home in Dunfermline, as well in the street and through letterboxes.

Mr Haldane, who is also councillor for the Dunfermline Central ward, is now urging dog owners to be vigilant, warning it could be their pet that “takes a child’s face off”.

He said: “This was another case of a dog owner being irresponsible and not having proper control over their animal.

“Imagine if this attack had happened to a child? It would not have been just the jaw line that was bitten, but the whole face. Dog owners have the responsibility to ensure their dog is under control at all times.

"Failure to do so could result in prosecution and your dog being put down, never mind the guilt of knowing your dog attacked someone. The consequences could be horrendous.

“There is a lot to know about owning a dog and if done right you will have a loving family pet; if done wrong, you may well end up having to put your beloved friend to sleep because it has bitten or attacked someone.

“This attack is another example of the risks the public are at when in someone’s garden or calling at someone’s door. This lady may now be disfigured due to the owners not having control over their animal.”

Mr Haldane, Communication Workers Union (CWU) rep for Dunfermline Delivery Office, added: “All dogs have the capacity to be aggressive; with the right training all dogs are well adjusted and very good family pets. With the wrong training, or lack of it, all dogs can be aggressive.

“If you have an aggressive dog or even think it may be, please seek professional advice and correct any bad behaviours now before it is too late.

“Even the owner sometimes needs training as the temperament of the owner can lead the dog to be aggressive as well.

“I would advise all dog owners, or potential dog owners, to read up on the breed of the dog they wish to own and to take them to dog training classes as soon as the dog is vaccinated.

“Don’t let it be your dog that takes a child’s face off.”