23/10/2009

Police Hunt 'Dog Strangler'

Police in the West Midlands are trying to trace a man seen on CCTV walking from a Birmingham park seconds after appearing to strangle his dog to death.

Police today appealed for witnesses to the killing, which followed an attack on a four-year-old boy as he played in Washwood Heath Park.

Officers issued the CCTV footage of the man leaving the park with the dog, which officers believe was killed in broad daylight in front of passers-by.

They want to find the owner about the attack and what happened afterwards at around 7.15pm on Saturday September 26.

A man was walking his dog, described as a brown pitbull type, through the park without a lead.

It approached a group of young children playing and attacked the four-year-old boy, leaving him with puncture wounds to his head.

The dog then ran back to its owner who then appeared to strangle the dog and try to put it in a bin bag before leaving the park.

The dog owner is described as Asian, approximately 5'10", in his mid 30's and dressed in a cream hooded jumper and blue jeans.

An ambulance was called to the scene and the little boy was treated for small puncture wounds to his head. He was treated at hospital and released the same night.

Sgt Alan Hands, from Nechells Green police station, said: "This was an horrific incident. It was terrifying for the little boy who was attacked and bitten by this dog which was not properly controlled on a lead.

"When it returned to the owner he appeared to destroy the dog with no regard for those who witnessed his actions or the animal itself without checking to see if the child was hurt.

"He is clearly not a responsible pet owner in any regard and we would urge anyone with information to contact police."

(PR/BMcC)

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