Southport dog attack as police shoot animal dead and locals told 'shut doors'

Southport dog attack as police shoot animal dead and locals told 'shut doors'A man in his 30s has been left hospitalised with injuries to his stomach and arm during the attack, police said, as armed units were scrambled to reports of two dogs on the loose in HillsideNewsJamie Greer , Ben Haslam and Joe Smith News Reporter14:58, 07 Apr 2026Updated 14:59, 07 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesForensic officers on Lynton Road, Hillside, Southport after a dog attack(Image: Liverpool Echo)Armed officers shot and killed a dog earlier today after a man was attacked in Merseyside.‌Armed response officers scrambled to the Hillside area at around 10.45am today to reports of two dogs on the loose on Lynton Road.‌A man in his 30s suffered injuries to his stomach and arm during the attack, police said. The man remains hospitalised after the attack. He is being treated for his injuries although they are not believed to be serious, Merseyside Police said.‌A second man, believed to be in his 70s, was approached aggressively by the two dogs but did not suffer any injuries, the Liverpool Echo reports.Armed police officers attended the scene alongside specialist dog officers. A spokesperson for the force said in order to prevent further harm and stop threat to the public, a decision was made to destroy one of the dogs at the scene.A police firearm was discharged during the incident. The second dog was detained by dog patrols. The force said there is no threat to the wider public.‌View 2 ImagesMerseyside Police crime scene(Image: Liverpool Echo)A cordon remains in place on Lynton Road, with one neighbour telling how she heard shots being fired as officers cornered a dog on the road.Another neighbour said he heard two gun shots ring out during the incident. Paul Taylor who was carrying out work on one house on the road said: "I was outside and loads of police turned up, including armed police.‌"A police woman shouted at me to get inside and shut the doors."Kath Moore, 78, who...