A public art project in Yarragon has been the target of criminal damage.

Pat the Dog, a mosaic statue at the Yarragon railway station, was smashed last Wednesday.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen offenders near the mosaic dog between 8am and 3.30pm.

Pat the Dog was a public art project initiated by the Baw Baw Arts Alliance.

Police said it appeared offenders used a hammer of sharp object to smash mosaic tiles on the statue.