A local dog-walking business is warning residents to be extra protective of their four-legged friends after an alleged attempted dognapping in west Burlington Friday, Jan. 10.

Terry Ryce — co-owner of Bark and Mew Crew — said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m., when one of his employees was returning a client’s dog in the Upper Middle Road and Brant Street area.

“She was returning the client’s dog which she’d been walking with two of her own at a park. She was in the house maybe two minutes after returning the dog when she found a man trying to open the back of her car where her husky was,” said Ryce, who noted that the husky was the intended target since the walker's other dog was in the front area of the vehicle, with a divider between them. “She asked what he wanted, he ran off to a waiting black pickup.”

Halton police confirmed Sunday morning that they are investigating the incident involving the man — described as white, in his 20s or 30s, with a thin build — and a black Dodge Ram, which was driven off by another man of similar age.