Pensioner beaten as he walked dog in Banbury
A man punched a 73-year-old dog walker after he took offence to the man's pet sniffing him as he walked past.
The victim needed stitches to his lip and had a bruised forehead in the attack in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday.
Police said the attacker was verbally abusive before hitting the man twice.
The assault in Bloxham Road took place between 08:30 and 08:45 BST. The attacker was described as "scruffy and unkempt".
Police said he was about 5ft 7in tall, in his late-50s and of medium build. He had been wearing brown clothes and a hat.
The pensioner had been walking his Airedale terrier at the time of the attack, which police said happened on a busy main road near a secondary school during the morning rush hour.
Thames Valley Police has described the assault as a "cowardly crime".
PC Ruth Ivins said: "This was a nasty and completely unprovoked attack on an elderly gentleman as he walked his dog.
"I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident, recognises the description of the offender, or has any information which may help with my investigation to come forward so we can catch the person responsible."