Police are appealing for witnesses following a report of a dog behaving dangerously in Hatfield Peverel.
The victim, a 39-year-old woman, was walking in The Street between the junctions with Church Road and Swan Court, at about 6.10pm on Friday when she saw a young woman walking an Alsatian dog.
This woman stepped out of the way to allow the victim to pass, but the dog then lunged forward and bit her on the hand.
This caused some puncture wounds and some scratches on her right hand.
The woman with the dog has then pulled the animal back off the victim, and asked if she was okay.
She said that it was not her dog but that she would inform the owner.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pc Bill Holland, or his colleagues at Braintree, on 101.
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