Police are appealing for the public’s help to identify a woman after a one-year-old baby was attacked by a dog in a busy shopping precinct.
The young boy was sitting in his pushchair when the incident occurred in Shirley Precinct, Southampton, at approximately 3.20pm on August 21. According to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, the dog—reported to be a German Shepherd—lunged at the child, resulting in facial injuries.
The toddler sustained two small puncture wounds and grazing to his face. He was rushed to a local hospital for medical assessment and treatment as a precaution. Thankfully, his injuries were not deemed to be life-threatening, but the incident has left the local community shaken.
In an effort to piece together the circumstances of the attack, investigators have released CCTV images of a woman they wish to speak with in connection with the incident. Police are working to determine who was in charge of the dog at the time it struck the child.
The woman in the footage is described by officers as white, approximately 5ft 7ins tall, and of a large build. Notably, investigators have confirmed that the dog was wearing a soft, mesh-style muzzle at the time of the attack.
A spokesperson for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated: “If this is you, or if you know the woman, please call police on 101, quoting 44260407684. Also, if you witnessed the incident, or have any relevant information, please contact us.”
The attack has raised fresh concerns regarding public safety and responsible pet ownership in shared spaces. As police continue their inquiries, they are urging anyone who may have been in the area of Shirley Precinct at the time of the incident to come forward.
Information can also be provided anonymously by contacting independent charity Crimestoppers. Investigators remain focused on locating the woman in the CCTV images to assist with their ongoing inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the distressing encounter.
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