A quiet street in Leeds, England, has become the center of a heated debate after a home security camera captured a troubling moment between a Royal Mail carrier and a one-year-old cockapoo puppy named Bella.

On April 17, Bella slipped out of a ground-floor window after hearing the mail carrier at the garden gate. As the friendly pup approached him, the camera shows the carrier making contact with his foot—an act that many viewers interpreted as a deliberate kick. Bella let out a yelp and bolted back inside.

Her owner, Nikki Walker, who was working from home, rushed to the door after hearing the cry. She said the postal worker was defensive and verbally aggressive when she asked about the incident and told him she had it on camera. He denied touching the dog, claiming he just raised his leg to protect himself—but the footage told a different story.

Nikki says Bella hasn’t been the same since—hiding indoors and showing signs of fear. Watching the video left Nikki shaken. “She’s just a puppy. She wasn’t being aggressive,” she told local reporters.

Royal Mail responded by suspending deliveries to Nikki’s home, citing safety concerns. They’ve asked her to install better fencing before service resumes, which could cost her around £80. The company pointed to the 2,200 dog-related incidents postal workers face annually, stressing the need to protect employees on their routes.

But for Nikki and many in the community, the video suggests this wasn’t about safety—it was a moment of unnecessary force against a defenseless animal.

The story has since stirred debate across the UK, raising questions about the line between self-defense and overreaction when it comes to delivery workers and pets.