DOG owners have been urged to be extra vigilant after a woman said she was 'terrified' after two men tried to rip her dog's lead from her.

Durham Police, Darlington Borough Council and DOGwatch (Dog Ownership Group) have joined forces to highlight the issue and offer some useful advice.

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, the council’s deputy leader, said: “While the number of incidents in our area is low and we do not wish to cause unnecessary alarm, we would urge dog owners to be vigilant and take a few sensible precautions to help keep their pets, and themselves, safe.”

Police in Darlington are currently investigating an incident in which two men attempted to steal a woman’s dog as she walked it on Salters Lane South.

Rachel Soley was walking her dog Woody in the area when she was approached by the two men.

Rachel said: "I don't normally walk him [Woody] late. I had literally just left my house. I was aware of two guys - one of them started to walk over the road. They said to me 'give me your dog'. I swore at them.

"They then tried to take the lead off my hand. I kicked him in the shin.

"I am 41-years-old - I am not a young girl. I was absolutely terrified. I didn't sleep at all that night as I was worried they'd followed me round the corner."

The men approached Rachel at around 10.40pm on Friday, January 29, and told her to give them her dog. One of the men tried to grab the lead from the woman’s hand, but she was able to pull the lead out of reach before picking her dog up and running away.

Inspector Dean Haythornthwaite, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This would have been a very frightening incident for the woman, and we are working hard to trace the perpetrators.

“I would like to reassure residents that incidents like this are extremely rare in Darlington, with only seven dog theft incidents reported in 2020. In the vast majority of these incidents, the thefts or attempted thefts took place when the dog was in a garden, rather than while out on a walk.

“Because of this, we would always encourage dog owners to keep their dog in view when it goes out into the garden - don’t leave it unattended. Ensure your garden or yard is secure, and check it regularly for wear and tear, or gaps.

“Ensure your dog is microchipped and keep your details up-to-date. We would also urge people not to leave their pet tied up unattended, such as outside shops for example.

“When out on a walk, train your dog not to go out of your sight and use an extending lead if the dog does not comply. Varying your walk times and routes is also a useful way of helping to keep you and your dog safe.”

David Gray, director at Petpals Darlington & Yarm who is a member of DOGwatch, added: “Thankfully these incidents are still incredibly rare. Sadly, everyone who owns a dog needs to be aware that their much-loved pet only has a financial value to these criminals, so it makes perfect sense to take a few simple steps to ensure they are kept safe.”