Postie's canine celebrations (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Postie's canine celebrations

1:05pm Monday 12th February 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Postman Mick Carpenter has been thrown an early retirement bash with a difference - the hosts were a bunch of dogs.

For the last two years the 65-year-old has been doing his bit for postal-poochie relationships with the aid of some doggie biscuits.

Every morning he takes a pocket full of treats as he goes on his round in Bankside and Sarsen Close, Old Town, to give the dogs something other than his ankles to get their teeth into.

All of the dogs now know and love him and residents and pets have got together to show him how much he will be missed when he retires at the end of the month by giving him a gift and card.

Mr Carpenter, who has been a postman for 10 years, said: "It means a lot to me, it really does.

"It is nice to be appreciated when you are only doing your job.

"I'd like to think I was pushing back boundaries by giving out the treats. I have had the biscuits ever since I started doing my round.

"I think it is far better to have them eager to see you rather than snapping at you and it adds another dimension to the job."

The post man estimates that he spends around £30 a year on dog biscuits.

"One is never enough so they all get a couple when I see them," he said.

"One of the luckiest dogs is Taffy whose house is at the end of my round, so he helps empty my pockets of biscuits for me."

As a token of their appreciation for all of his hard work and dedication to them, and their dogs, residents clubbed together to get Mr Carpenter a card and a gift.

Taffy's owner, Richard Evans, said all the dogs, including his chocolate-coloured labrador, would miss him when he retires.

"Whenever Taffy sees Mick he goes running out of the house and chases him down the road until he catches up," said 37-year-old Richard, of Bankside.

"We will all miss Mick, dogs and owners. He is a character in the area and he loves all of the dogs so much."

Judith Rouse, 61, who has lived in Sarsen Close for 27 years, said no-one could replace him.

"We will all really miss him when he retires.

"He is the best postman we have ever had," said Judith, whose beagle Honey gets a biscuit every morning.

"He always gives 100 per cent more than anyone expects.

"He knows us all and if you have a parcel and you are driving up the road for work he will come running down the road to tell you so you don't have to go and pick it up later.

"He gives old-fashioned service and consideration and we could do with more like him."