A “CRUEL” Royal Mail postie has been caught on camera KICKING a customer’s “attention-loving” puppy in the face.
Nikki Walker, 49, was working from home last month when cockapoo Bella heard the garden gate open and jumped out of a ground floor window.
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Moments later Nicki heard the one-year-old pup yelp in pain and rushed to the front door to question a Royal Mail postman who had just delivered some letters.
She says the rude worker denied kicking Bella and told her to “do what the f**k she wants” when she threatened to check her doorcam footage.
Nikki was appalled to discover footage on the doorcam of the Royal Mail postie booting her pooch in the face.
The shocking video shows Bella run over to the postman who turns around and kicks the rescue dog in the face with his right boot.
Squealing, Bella is launched backwards in mid-air and runs off a couple of seconds before Nikki appears at the front door.
Nikki claims the postie told her he simply “put my leg up to stop Bella from jumping” but she believes he was lying.
The mum-of-four says she was “absolutely fuming” while reviewing the footage and has complained to Royal Mail.
She says they offered her £100 and a home visit from a staff member to apologise, but she rejected the latter as she wanted all correspondence in writing.
Nikki claims Royal Mail have since threatened to suspend deliveries to her address unless she ensures the dog is kept away from staff.
She describes Bella as a “faithful, cuddle-loving” puppy who has never bitten anyone and posted the video to Facebook where users branded the postie a “scumbag” and called for him to be sacked.
Royal Mail claim two other posties have reported Bella growling at them and insisted their “first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety” of staff.
The postman has now been removed from the round and won’t be delivering to the address on Nikki’s request.
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Nikki, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, said: “When I heard yelping I quickly ran outside the front door.
“When I asked what she’s yelping at he said he didn’t know. I asked if he’d kicked the dog and he said ‘no, I put my leg up to stop her from jumping’.
“That won’t be the case because he put his leg back and kicked. I knew he was lying to me.
“I told him I’d check the camera then he said ‘do what the f**k you want.
“Bella ran into the house, curled and cowered on the sofa and that’s not like her. I knew something had happened.
“I sat next to her to watch the video and when I did I was absolutely fuming.
“She was wagging her tail. She wasn’t aggressive or barking.
“She’s a faithful puppy. She loves cuddles, attention and she’d sit on your knee for hours.
“If he’d have done that to my last dog he’d have killed her.
“My daughter watched the video and she was absolutely mortified.”
Nikki says it will cost her around £80 to build new fencing so Royal Mail will agree to deliver to her address.
She feels the delivery giants are treating her puppy like a “dangerous” dog despite her claiming she’s never bitten anyone.
Nikki said: “They sent this via a letter, which is quite ironic. You couldn’t make it up.
“We’ve had to go out, buy some wood and build and new fence and gate so she can be secured in the back garden
“It’s as if my dog is dangerous. It’s really annoyed me. She’s not a rottweiler or a big alsatian and she’s never bit anybody.”
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Nikki’s Facebook post has more than 200 comments, shares and reactions.
The post said: “This is absolutely disgusting behaviour kicking my one-year-old puppy in the face. She’s wagging her tail.
“The yelps coming out of her are distressing so be mindful if watching, please.”
One commented: “Disgusting behaviour. Report him and push for an outcome.”
A second said: “I hope he gets sacked, he wouldn’t be kicking a rottweiler.”
A third agreed and said: “Sack the scumbag.”
However one said: “Should keep your dog under control at all times.”
Nikki hit back: “She was in her own garden not running wild in the streets. it’s the postman who was out of control.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident involving one of our postmen and a dog in Leeds.
“Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.
The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control, However, last year, there were over 2,200 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK – some resulting in life-changing injuries.
“We continue to appeal to dog owners to secure their pets when the postie arrives to help reduce the number of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden.”