Husband encountering dangerous dogs at work

[microplasticmum]

My husband does home visits as part of his job and often comes across XL bullies/other similarly large intimidating dogs. Some of the people he supports as part of this job own these dogs for protection and will become unreasonable if you draw attention to them. He often finds himself in situations where he is in the same room as these dogs, and feels unable to ask for them to be put away as he doesn’t want to start an argument with what is essentially a weapon in the room.

I’m worried sick for him. He recently had a really scary encounter with three large dogs in a small hotel room. He’s going to tell his manager that he’s not going to visit these people alone again, but I don’t know how much use that’ll be if he’s attacked. I have no idea what he’s supposed to do

What he does will depend on his employer. Is he in the private sector?

Yes I've come across this as well and it's bloody terrifying. A patient's family told me that a huge snarling bulldog was just checking me out, the next week my colleague needed 6 stitches when it attacked her.
We should not be out in this situation. I now refuse to go into homes unless the dog its locked away.

I do home visits too. I'm afraid my approach is to lie and say I am very allergic to all dogs. I am just scared really, and I really dislike the way they always want to nose in my bag or touch my legs, and the owner simply smiles indulgently. I'm there to do my job, not protect my coat and equipment from drool or my body from attack!

He’s public sector and in a union who have previously been quite helpful. I just don’t know how this can practically be managed at the same time as him carrying out all of the requirements of his role, especially in tiny hotel rooms.

My DH used to be a postie, the dogs were the worst part of the job.

He should make sure he reports any concerns he has and any incidents. His employer has a duty to keep him reasonably safe and should act on the reports.

We insist on dogs being put away before staff will visit.
Having had a really nasty incident between a staff member and a dog leaving her with a lifelong disability no dogs needs to be a strict policy from the employer. If it's a blanket policy covering chihuahuas to St Bernards nobody can complain.

His job absolutely should be protecting him from this. They need to be checking if there are any dogs present ahead of visits and have a requirement that they are in another room ahead of the visit. Not safe? Not visiting. Simple

His employer should have a policy or procedure for staff carrying out visits to people in their homes, and he should be able to ask for a risk assessment for such situations. If his union is any good, they should be able to approach management on his behalf, and possibly advise if it’s ok to terminate a visit where there is a dog in the room.

As a nurse on the community if I tell patients I am cautious of dogs they try and convince me how friendly their dog is as I shake in my boots, over time I have found out if I say I am allergic to dogs they will keep them away from me.

Husband has found exactly the same. If he says he’s scared of dogs they try and convince him theirs is fine, and then get aggressive if he insists. Will suggest the allergy tactics, good idea.

When I was a student nurse, the District nurse I was on placement with always insisted dogs were removed from the room. She said dogs could think she was hurting their owner while she was treating them. This was over 25 years ago.
needs to be raised with line manager, is there a risk assessment/policy needed. Also continue to speak to union about it.

He should not be putting his life at risk for any job and he needs to tell this to his employer. The unions need to be involved. Sooner the better there are no XL bullies left but short of a cull it’ll be another 10 years not taking into account the “hidden” ones.

His union should be able to help with this. It’s a health and safety issue and he has a legal right to retreat to a place of safety.

Are clients asked to put dogs in another room before visits?
I live in a HA property and all letters regarding repairs ect say dogs should be shut in another part of the house.
It also says cats too for single room repairs which is a bit daft and I will of course put the nosy one away if asked but he usually gets a fuss! The other hides in the smallest space available!
If clients do get a similar letter or texts then he is certainly within his rights to refuse to enter.

When I have trades in i always remove the pets why is this no longer done?

We always ask for dogs to be put in another room before we visit.

As someone who has been off work for the last 4 months recovering from having my arm ripped apart by a dog whilst delivering post you most definitely can refuse to enter the house, my union has had my back completely.

I work in the community, either the dog goes in a different room or I don’t go in 🤷‍♀️

The dogs I’ve had the worst experiences with were small dogs though, a chihuahua was the scariest and the closest I’ve come getting bitten.

I run a business where I could do home visits but I insist all my clients come to me. This saves any argument or doubt about dogs being present.

At the moment one potential client is desperate for me to visit her and cannot understand how I don't want to have the "pleasure" of her badly trained and yappy mutt. I don't need the work, she has no chance of a home visit.

Years ago our postman was off work for a week or so having had his leg ripped by a dog in a front yard.

OP I hope your DH can get this sorted, he should not be in danger while working.

I am surprised the service users are allowed to have 3 large dogs in a hotel room (assuming they are homeless and placed in interim accommodation or a similar scenario?) I would not enter a hotel bedroom and would ask clients to meet in reception under the gaze of staff. I would suggest he messages, calls, or emails prior to any home visit asking for pets to be put in another room and be clear that appointments will not go ahead if they do not adhere to this. Personal safety should be his and his employers priority, and he can lean in employment law without question here.

I’d be asking work where the risk assessment was for this situation and what processes he should be following. They need to put protections in place

I had home visits from public sector staff and I was asked in advance to secure dogs elsewhere in another room

perfectly reasonable for them to not visit if I didn’t comply (which I did)

Even delivery companies send texts asking for dogs to be kept away during the delivery when they send the time slot, and they aren’t even entering the premises. Just advise the clients, he will not enter if the dogs are able to be in the same space. It’s perfectly reasonable. I keep mine locked up for visitors so they don’t lick anyone to death

Well if they refuse to put them out of the way, he walks out of the room/house etc, and tells his manager why he can’t do what he needs to do with then on that occasion. And then again if they still don’t listen next time.

They should have a lone worker policy which includes safety and dogs. I used to work in community and always had to be assertive and ask the people in household to keep the dog away while I do my job as this is the policy and I can get into trouble if I dont adhere to it.
I used to sympathise with them, let them know I love dogs and have one myself but this is work and I need to follow rules. Never had problems.
But I never had to work in hotel rooms either, so they always had some extra space to put the dog away.
I own a giant breed dog who is the most calmest and gentle dog, I still put him away when I know there's workers coming to the house.