PARENTS have spoken of their anger at the owners of a puppy which they say jumped and scratched their five-year-old son in the Meon Valley countryside.

Kay and Shane Langridge say the young Labrador jumped on their son, Deaghlan, and clawed at his face as they walked the old railway line near West Meon Station on Sunday afternoon.

The seven-month-old dog, which was not on a leash, returned to the boy twice as Mr Langridge tried to clear mud from his face. Deaghlan was left shaken and with several light scratches, but Mrs Langridge doesn’t believe the puppy knew what it was doing.

The family, who live near Emsworth, had stopped off at the country path after visiting relatives in nearby Meonstoke.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Deaghlan Langridge, five, after some of his scratches had faded

More than 50 people have shared an online appeal to track down the owners: a man and woman who Mrs Langridge estimates were in their late 40s or early 50s.

“Our son was shaken, covered in mud and had claw marks on his face,” she said. “All have faded now except one between his mouth and nose.

“The lady was in no way in control, that dog should have been on a lead and her attitude made me very angry. She couldn’t really care less about our son, and the incident could easily have been much worse.”

The incident, which took place at 2pm on Sunday, has been reported to police and referred to Winchester City Council’s dog warden.