A DOG owner is calling for action after her pet was injured by broken glass bottles left strewn across a woodland path.

Charlotte Brownlie, 18, is appealing for people to be more responsible around the Flatts Wood area of Barnard Castle following the incident with her dog Marley on Tuesday, May 22.

Miss Brownlie’s sister, Laura Brownlie, had taken the Golden Retriever for one of his favourite walks with their parents’ dog and fellow Golden Retriever, Jayne, that afternoon.

But it was not until the pair were about to be hosed down after the walk when the pair noticed Marley’s injury.

“I just noticed how his paw was covered in blood," Miss Brownlie said. "Luckily I do animal management at college so I knew how to bandage it up."

Marley, two, had to be given an injection of antibiotics from the vet but is now recovering at home.

Miss Brownlie said: "He would not sit still and he was worked up, crying and growling and as soon as I took the bandage off he was trying to lick it which can cause infection."

"The dogs are walked there every day and Marley has never cut his paw before," her sister, 21, added. "I had been forewarned by a guy who said he had picked up lots of glass already but when this happened I wanted to warn others so I put it on Facebook."

She added: "I just think something needs to be done - I felt really guilty."

Miss Brownlie said she had often witnessed people drinking in the area and throwing their glass bottles away despite bins being nearby.

"It has been happening for years," she said. "My plan is to ask the PCSOs to walk down there to take more of a look down there, especially with the Meet weekend coming up.

"I'm definitely reporting it; it's getting beyond a joke."

The sisters are also hoping to organise a clean up of the area, owned by Raby Estates, this summer.

CEO of Raby Estates Duncan Peake, said: "Raby Estates created an access area in Flatts Wood for the benefit of local people and visitors to the town.

"As a dog owner myself I’m very concerned to hear about the injury and hope the dog concerned recovers quickly.

"Littering, fly tipping and other forms of anti-social behaviour are becoming more of a problem generally. Raby would wholeheartedly support any local initiative to address these issues."

Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, added: “We are sorry to hear of this dog’s injury which illustrates the danger of discarding glass bottles.

"We would ask people to put all waste in a bin or take it home with them. We are also happy to advise Raby Estates in addressing any issues on its land.”