Dog owners are being invited to join an evening walk together amid rising cases of pet theft in the area.

The Night Howl group walk takes place on September 22 at 7pm in Longford Park, Stretford and organisers hope those taking part will be able to find reassurance from a like-minded community.

The event is hosted by Dog Furiendly, a website and app that provides a search engine for dog-friendly locations in the UK.

Adele Pember, founder of the business said the walks were initially created to make dog walkers feel as safe as possible, especially in the summer months as many dogs need walking when the temperature is cooler.

She told TeamDogs : “There's definitely a larger number of dog owners who are feeling more scared of walking their dogs alone since the rise of dog-nappers during lockdown.

“Over the last year, we've had a lot of questions from members in our community, asking for support and for different ways to keep safe from dog thefts during a walk.

“As the old saying goes, there's safety in numbers!”

The events began in July, and have seen an overwhelming response from dog walkers, with over 300 participants taking part in the walks which have been held across the UK.

Adele added: “These walks are also perfect for meeting like-minded dog owners which helps to combat the rise in loneliness which has increased since lockdown, particularly among 18-29-year olds, people living alone, with lower household income, and those with a mental health condition.

“This is a great way for dog owners to switch off, exploring new walks in the local area while introducing your pooch to some new fur friends!”

The walk itself takes approximately 60 minutes and is led by Dog Furiendly explorer Luke, and his greyhound Lucy.

Lucy is quite the celebrity herself, boasting over 3,000 Instagram followers, with her page regularly updated with photographs of her daily life.

Attendees are advised to meet in the car park on the day, and bring sensible shoes.

They will also receive a free goody bag from Burns Pet Nutrition filled with plenty of treats.

For more information, visit Dog Furiendly’s website , and for tickets for the event follow the link here.