Aurora's watchdog snapping
PHILIPPA DUNCAN
January 24, 2010 09:14am
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/01/24/123685_tasmania-news.html
THE Ombudsman will put the bite on Aurora to change its controversial policy to protect meter readers from dogs.
More than a dozen irate dog owners have complained to the Ombudsman about the policy that requires dogs to be tied up or locked away for up to seven business days to allow meter readers safe entry to properties.
"We've heard some concerning stories," Ombudsman Simon Allston said.
"Dogs having to be tied up for many days in a row in the hot sun. We have certain thoughts about it, so we need to talk to them about changing practice."
He said the number of complaints represented "big community concern".
But Aurora is making no apologies for the policy, which was introduced after a dog tore a body part off a meter reader.
The horrific attack cost the company $100,000 in workers' compensation and the meter reader was too traumatised to return to the job.
To prove its point that dogs can go from snoozing to vicious in an instant, Aurora released a photograph of a dog at Dodges Ferry seconds before it attacked a meter reader.
The second photo shows the resulting dog bite on the meter reader's thigh.
The policy was applied in 2005 but was tightened last year when dog attacks continued.
In 2005-06 there were 11 dog bites and in 2008-09 there were six.
Meter readers used to rely on their own judgment when entering properties but now they cannot enter a property where a dog lives unless they know the dog or can see it is restrained.
If a dog is not home or is tied up around the back of a house out of sight, meter readers will still not enter the property.
Customers are then sent "guesstimate" bills and asked to restrain their dogs for three working days before and after the next reading date.
In the last billing quarter, Aurora refused to read 1352 meters because of dogs, about 0.5 per cent of all meters.
Aurora customer connections manager David Eyles said the constant and potential threat of dog attacks caused great stress for the meter readers.
He said Tasmania's dog population had grown and all breeds had the potential to be aggressive.
"It is not possible to make a distinction between dangerous and non-threatening dogs on the basis of size," Mr Eyles said.
"We have had recorded dog bites from small breeds, which often have needle-like teeth."
He said Aurora's first priority was the safety of its personnel.
The Ombudsman will meet Aurora representatives next month.
THE METER READER
Yards of peril where dog is king
NAME a dog breed, and chances are meter reader Mark Allison has been bitten or attacked by one.
"I've lost count, I have been bitten so many times," he said.
"Back then, you just took your chances."
The one that sticks in his mind is a german shepherd several years ago.
The owner had assured Aurora the dog would not be home, but, as always, Mr Allison rounded the back of the house with a pounding heart.
"The dog was two to three metres from me. I had the clipboard in my hand but before I could swing it he latched on to my hand and would not let go. There was blood going everywhere," he said.
The trained guard dog would not let go of the soft flesh of his inner wrist and Mr Allison had to drag it to the gate, twisting its head.
"That's what did it for me," he said.
"It is the worst pain I have ever felt and I've broken bones there is nothing like it."
Mr Allison's job managing Aurora's meter readers keeps him in the office most days but last week he took time out to go meter reading with the Sunday Tasmanian to explain the perils of the job.
His eyes were peeled for any sign of a dog and he spotted a german shepherd snoozing on a couch at Seven Mile Beach minutes before the Sunday Tasmanian could locate the dog.
"There he is, having a look at us," Mr Allison said.
"He's probably all right but you just don't know and the meter box is right there.
"We wouldn't go into this property."
Another "no-go" zone is a house with a long driveway and shut gate.
There is no sign of a dog but records show one lives there.
The driveway is judged too long to make a run for safety if a dog attacks.
Mr Allison said his experience had taught him that all dogs could turn vicious.
He said he had been attacked by dogs that had wagged their tails and let him pat them, normally docile breeds like red setters and golden retrievers, dogs that are as totally placid when their owners are around, and dogs as small as milk cartons.
"They are small but they hurt and they are so fast," he said.
"I used to have dogs but I don't now because I know what they're capable of and I have children."
THE DOG OWNER
Animals suffer, people stressed
BLUE-HEELER cross Leah was tied up or locked inside for six long hot days last week and in the end it was all for nothing.
Unbeknown to her minder, Sandy Bay's Chris Szczypka, an Aurora meter reader had come on the fourth day and, not seeing the dog, left without reading the meter.
"She was tied up for the six days for no point," she said.
"They had come on Thursday and stood outside the gate and did a guesstimate.
"She was tied up.
"They would have heard her barking.
"You can hear she is around the back.
"Animals suffer because of their [Aurora's] lack of consideration."
Mrs Szczypka has been on the other side of Aurora's dog policy.
For six working days she has either been "grounded" at home or dashing back to check on Leah.
"If I had not come home, she could have died from dehydration," she said.
"It really got to me, I just broke down in the end."
For two years Mrs Szczypka has been looking after her son's dog, Leah.
"She's a teddy bear," she said.
But that has meant that for two years Mrs Szczypka has had problems getting Aurora to read her meter.
Last week her patience was stretched to the limit and she took her complaint to the ombudsman.
"I don't want to be dramatic but it's really tough and I am just dreading the next quarter," she said.
"I've heard of some people taking leave so they can get their meters read.
"Hundreds of people are in this situation and they're stressed out of their minds."
Mrs Szczypka said it was unreasonable for Aurora to ask people to keep their dogs restrained for so long.
"One day I can handle," she said.
"I wouldn't mind if they could say Monday or Wednesday."
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