Meet Buddy… SA’s dog safety ambassador

Personalised letters addressed to all 314,000 registered South Australian dogs are on their way this week as part of a new partnership with Australia Post.

The letters are written from Buddy - the government’s new animated dog bite safety educator - who is on a mission to share practical safety messaging to keep posties and all of us safe from dog bites.

Dog bites are a major issue for Australia Post with, 114 posties bitten in South Australia (1420 nationally) the first five months of 2024. Each year around 500 South Australians are admitted to hospital for dog bite trauma. More than 1200 incidents were reported to councils and independent research reveals most aren’t reported.

Buddy has also released 3 short videos demonstrating the warning signs dogs give before they bite, which are available on the government’s dog bite safety website at Good dogs have bad days – but you can also check them out below.

Australia Post is supporting the campaign by delivering the letters and displaying free bumper stickers and dog safety leaflets featuring Buddy and his friends in post offices across the state until November 2024.

Posties won’t deliver to a home or business if it’s its deemed not safe and won’t recommence delivery until the danger has been addressed. Australia Post also reports dog-related incidents to local councils for follow up action, so please keep an eye out for your dog and your postie and read your letter to your dog to keep everyone safe.