Matthew attended a drop-in session at Westminster - supported by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Dogs Trust -  with Royal Mail Group Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability, Shaun Davis. Around 70 MPs attended and the session provided them with advice on how to react around dogs when out in their local areas.

This forms part of Royal Mail’s wider campaign to reduce the number of dog attacks on postal workers and to encourage responsible dog ownership during Dog Awareness Week. However, postal workers are not alone in facing the risk of being attacked by a dog while carrying out their jobs. Politicians and volunteers may also encounter dogs when out canvassing and leafleting in their local areas.

Matthew is working with Royal Mail to encourage dogs owners to play their part in reducing the number of incidents.

Matthew said: “I am pleased to have attended the session at Westminster where I learned and shared tips on how to protect myself and my colleagues from dog attacks when out leafletting and canvassing in Hendon.

“Dog attacks are a significant issue faced by postal workers, members of the public and indeed by myself and my colleagues when out and about in our constituencies.  Royal Mail, CWU, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Dogs Trust are doing a fantastic job promoting responsible dog ownership and I fully support this important campaign”.

Royal Mail has published the results of a survey of MPs and Assembly Members about their personal experiences of being bitten by a dog.

The survey found that politicians face similar risks of being attacked by a dog to postal workers when out canvassing or delivering leaflets. Just over half of the near-50 respondents revealed they had had an incident with a dog.

Shaun Davis, Royal Mail Group Director of Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability said: “We’re very pleased that Matthew is giving his support to our important campaign.

“As we’ve seen from our survey, postal workers are not alone in facing dog attacks – politicians experience the same risk of being bitten by a dog every time they canvass or deliver a leaflet through someone’s door. Nobody should face this hazard whilst simply trying to do their job.

“Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers. We appeal to owners to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature. It can also be simple things that help - for example just making sure the dog is kept inside when the postman calls.”

There were 8 attacks recorded across the Hendon constituency from April 2013 to April 2014.