A woman has suffered an arm injury in a dog attack in Leven.
Police say the woman needed hospital treatment after the Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog pounced when the woman tried to stroke it outside shops in the Fife town.
The attack happened on Thursday night and police are now appealing for help to trace the owner.
Police say the woman approached a teenager who was tying the dog to railings outside a takeaway at the Broom Shops off Linwood Drive.
She went to stroke the dog but it bit her on the arm, leaving what was described as a significant injury.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Victoria Hospital.
Community Sergeant Mike Collins said: “This has been an unfortunate incident which has resulted in a local woman being bitten quite badly on the arm.
“I need to identify the dog and its owner to establish the full facts and to ensure that safety measures can be out in place to prevent any future incidents with this dog.
“The incident highlights the danger of people approaching strange dogs in public.
“Whilst the lady’s intentions were to befriend and clap the animal, the dog’s reaction has been to bite her.”
The incident happened at around 9.30pm. Anyone with information is asked to phone 101.