A teenager suffered severe leg injuries after a man set his dog on him at Accrington train station.
Police said the owner let what is thought to have been a brown Staffordshire Bull terrier off its lead because the victim had made jokes about him.
PC Adam Birkbeck, of British Transport Police, said they are now hunting the offender.
He said the victim, a 19-year-old man from Accrington, was walking along the platform, joking with his friend, when the pair were approached by a man and woman who had a small brown dog, possibly a Staffordshire bull terrier, on a lead.
He added: “The man with the dog took exception to the comments made by the friends, believing they were directed at him, and became extremely aggressive.
“Despite being assured that the comments made by the pair were directed at each other, the man continued his aggressive behaviour and took his dog off the lead – directing it to attack the victim.
“The dog immediately targeted the 19-year-old, biting his leg causing severe grazing. The attack continued until the dog’s owner called for it to stop.
“Following the attack the man and woman collected the dog and left the station.”
The incident happened at Accrington rail station just after 5pm on Tuesday, 12 February.
The offender was white, about 20-years-old, 5’9” tall and of medium build. He had short brown gelled hair and was wearing a black top.
The woman he was with was white, slim, about 18 or 19 and had dyed red hair.
PC Birkbeck added: “The aggression shown by the offender was completely unacceptable and there is no doubt that the injuries sustained by the victim could have been far worse. It is only through sheer good fortune that the dog wasn’t able to inflict any more damage.
“I am confident that someone will know the man responsible and I am calling on them to come forward before some is seriously injured as a result of his aggressive and irresponsible behaviour.”
If you recognise the descriptions or have any information about the incident please call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
