A WOMAN was bitten on the face by a German Shepherd as she tried to protect her own dog while on a walk in Poole.

At around 1.30pm on Wednesday, October 19, a woman aged in her 40s was walking her Yorkshire Terrier on Canford Heath.

She was walking along a narrow path near to a farm at the north end of the heath when she was approached by a woman with two German Shepherds.

The dogs ran toward the victim, so she picked her Yorkshire Terrier and one of the German Shepherds jumped up and bit her upper lip and forehead.

The owner of the dogs gave a telephone number following the incident before leaving the scene, however it is believed she provided a false number.

The woman with the German Shepherds is described as having grey hair and was wearing a navy blue coat or anorak.

Police Constable Jennie Sykes-Martin, of Dorset Police, said: “We are investigating this incident and I would urge any witnesses or anyone with information that might assist our enquiries to please come forward.

“I would also urge the owner of the dogs involved to please do the right thing and come forward so we can take your account of what happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220170362.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.