A dog who injured a postman has been given another chance after a court decided not to have him put down.

The Alsatian jumped up at the postman while he was delivering letters.

His victim was standing on the path leading up to dog owner's home in Turner Close, Shoebury, when the incident happened in September last year.

He turned his back on the dog to protect himself and the Alsatian jumped onto his back.

He felt a sudden pain and said he felt teeth and claws digging into his back but he did not see which part of the dog made contact with him.

The man received cuts and scratches to his back through his uniform, a sleeveless pullover and a shirt.

Owner Kathleen Rowell, 49, then called the dog away and took him inside the house.

Mrs Rowell told Southend stipendiary magistrate Kenneth Sheringham that her dog always greeted people in this manner.

She said he was not vicious but he was a big dog and very excitable.

She said: "He was just being playful. We have tried stopping him jumping up but he just wants to be near people."

Mr Sheringham said the postman did not want the dog destroyed but he was concerned about other postmen's safety following the injuries he had received.

He told Mrs Rowell: "The dog must be kept under control. If this happens again the court will hear about this incident and any others that might have occurred and he could be destroyed."

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