A DOG was attacked and a woman ‘pulled to the ground’ in a busy Southampton park in broad daylight.
Police are now searching for a man following the alleged incident on Southampton Common near the boating lake.
Tracy Pearce, 50, was reportedly bitten by two Lurcher-type dogs while trying to protect her miniature Cockapoo, Bunter.
She claims a man walking the dogs pulled her to the ground before punching one of the animals in the head several times.
Following the incident, which happened around 11.15am on Monday, Tracy’s dog Bunter was rushed to a vets.
The pet, who is almost two years old, had an operation to drain fluid from his chest.
He was left covered in cuts and bruises and needed stitches for a flesh wound.
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Witness, Alice Borodzicz, 24, said: “He was punching his own dog in the face repeatedly.
“His other two dogs were circling as a pack.
“There was a chunk taken out from the Cockapoo.
“At the end of the day, it’s probably not the dog’s fault, it’s the owner.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “It was reported that a woman was bitten by two dogs on Southampton Common around 11.15am on Monday.
“It is alleged that during the incident, the owner of the two dogs pulled the woman and one of the dogs to the floor, before hitting the dog on the head.
“The man is described as being white, of slim build, around 35 to 40 years old and with black hair.
“Anyone who saw the incident can call 101, quoting the reference 44210316241.”
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Echo that moments before Bunter was attacked, three Lurchers were seen trying to set upon another dog.
Witness Gary Baker, 61, said: “The dogs started to encircle us.
“One of them then took a bite towards [my dog].”
Gary, a recovery technician from Millbrook, said he was able to pick up Rosie, his Jack Russell, before she was injured.
But two of the dogs then started to jump up at him and his pet, he said.
The father of four said he witnessed the attack on Bunter, and described hearing him “screaming”.
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