She’s what you might call a keeper – but you wouldn’t like her when she’s angry.

When opportunist thieves tried stealing bulldog-staff Hulk from a garden in Swanscombe, his “wife” Rolo came running and forced them to flee empty handed.

Owner Leanne Powell described how the criminals had tried to lift three-year-old Hulk by his collar over the back fence in Orchard Road on Sunday evening.

However, shar-pei Rolo, also three, leapt on top of him and went “crazy” to stop the thieves making off with the dad of her four-month pup Molly Mole.

“My sister was out having a cigarette, and the two dogs were out there,” said mum-of-four Leanne, 31.

“She could hear voices at the back of the fence. Hulk went up there and the next thing he was off the floor and making choking and strangling noises.

“Rolo zoomed over and leapt on him – they both came down on the floor. She went running like crazy and jumped on top of him. She was going crazy. Shar-peis bark but they also make mad snorting noises – it’s like a dinosaur or something.

“My sister shouted and they ran,” added Leanne, who described the dogs as “husband and wife”.

“It was really upsetting. My kids were crying because my sister was screaming and the dogs were upset.”

Leanne’s partner Warren Cooke also ran around the back of the garden but by then the thieves had disappeared.

Leanne reported the attempted dognapping to the police and later took to Facebook to warn other dog owners and send a message to the thieves themselves, posting: “Before trying to steal my dog you might wanna know that I do have two other dogs that would have sorted you out had they have got to you!

“Absolute disgusting scum bags! Just letting you guys know so you can keep an eye on your fur babies when they’re in the garden!”

But speaking to the Messenger she was full of praise for Rolo, who gave birth following a complicated pregnancy on October 27 last year.

“We were told she had a phantom pregnancy and then she gave birth, but she had a prolapsed womb,” said Leanne. “It’s amazing considering she’s been through such a lot.

“She saved the day. They could have taken anything. They could have dragged him over the fence, but the way she acted was amazing.

“Afterwards Hulk was really upset – she was licking him and loving him.”

She said police were investigating the incident and had said they would check CCTV in the area.

Police confirmed they had received a report of an attempted theft of a dog from a garden in Orchard Road, Swanscombe, at around 8.45pm on Sunday.

They said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area, is asked to call police on 01474 366149 quoting reference 46/39849/20.

You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

In a separate incident, a bulldog puppy was snatched by thieves after holding his owner at knifepoint while out on a morning walk.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

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