POLICE are investigating a report of a couple falsely claiming a dog as their own from a warden.

A dog owner made a call to the force on Tuesday, January 18, at 4.20pm following the alleged incident in the Railway Terrace area of Willington, County Durham.

The owner of the Labrador and Springer Spaniel cross, believed to be called Marley, told officers the pet had escaped from The Colliery Cafe, in the town, and said they understood it had been picked up by a dog warden.

A couple purporting to be the owners are said to have claimed the microchipped dog as theirs and took it with them.

Crook Police wrote on Facebook: "If anyone has bought or acquired a golden Labrador/Springer Spaniel cross since (Tuesday), can you please contact PC Mike Hall from the Crook Neighbourhood Police team.

"The dog has possibly been sold to persons in the Crook or Chester-le-Street area."

  • Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number DHM-17012017-0339.