Yesterday a courier pulled up in my driveway and phoned me. He said could I open the sliding gate, which I did. I walked out to him and said did he want me to sign or just give him the slip which was in the letterbox. He had originally left a slip and not delivered the box a few days ago.
He answered that he would not come on to my property because of the "Beware of the Dog - Enter at your own risk" sign.
We put this sign up because our toy poodle twice nipped the ankles of our local Australia Post courier. If he reported it to council we could be slapped with a dangerous dog order, meaning a huge increase in registration fees and having to muzzle him in public.
Anyway, yesterday the courier said the dog did not worry him, but the sign did. He said that by me putting up the sign saying "enter at your own risk" if he entered and tripped in my yard, he was acknowledging that he was taking on any risk himself. He also said he was bitten by a dog delivering some wine and the owner had a similar sign. He had a couple of days off work and apparently the dog owner laughed at him when he approached him. (I don't know what he wanted from the owner - doctor bill to be paid? - he didn't elaborate.)
It got me to thinking. By trying to avoid a higher registration for our poodle, have we actually jeopardised our insurance cover? Could our insurance company get out of any possible claim because we had the words "enter at your own risk" on our gate?
I have called my insurance company. The person I spoke to thought there was no jeopardy but one of their legal staff will call me back within 24 hours to confirm it (or not?). In the meantime, I wonder if anyone can shed any light on this?
Wylie
He answered that he would not come on to my property because of the "Beware of the Dog - Enter at your own risk" sign.
We put this sign up because our toy poodle twice nipped the ankles of our local Australia Post courier. If he reported it to council we could be slapped with a dangerous dog order, meaning a huge increase in registration fees and having to muzzle him in public.
Anyway, yesterday the courier said the dog did not worry him, but the sign did. He said that by me putting up the sign saying "enter at your own risk" if he entered and tripped in my yard, he was acknowledging that he was taking on any risk himself. He also said he was bitten by a dog delivering some wine and the owner had a similar sign. He had a couple of days off work and apparently the dog owner laughed at him when he approached him. (I don't know what he wanted from the owner - doctor bill to be paid? - he didn't elaborate.)
It got me to thinking. By trying to avoid a higher registration for our poodle, have we actually jeopardised our insurance cover? Could our insurance company get out of any possible claim because we had the words "enter at your own risk" on our gate?
I have called my insurance company. The person I spoke to thought there was no jeopardy but one of their legal staff will call me back within 24 hours to confirm it (or not?). In the meantime, I wonder if anyone can shed any light on this?
Wylie
