TWO women have been attacked as thieves tried to steal their huskies – and dog baiters are thought to be the prime suspects.

One woman was left with a bloody nose after she was punched in the face by a would-be dog thief as she took her pet for a walk.

And another was pushed to the ground by someone trying to steal her pup.

Husky owners are being warned that the breed is being targeted for dog baiting.

The dogs are non-aggressive, but are a tough breed, something that experts fear make them an excellent choice for sick yobs to use when training fighting dogs.

There have been few incidents of the problem in this country but it is a craze that has swept the USA.

One charity said it was a ‘very worrying time for husky owners’.

Dog-baiting and dog fighting has been banned since 1835 under the Cruelty to Animals Act.

The RSPCA said incidents of dog fighting take place in back alleys and parks as well as behind closed doors.

Amy Leigh, 20, from Accrington, was walking 11-month Siberian Husky called Rayne near to the Broadway Pub last week.

She said: “People always stop to stroke him and this guy asked if he could. He bent down and was looking at his collar. I think he was looking for an address on the tag, but I don’t have it on there for that very reason.

“I bent down to pull Rayne closer to me with his collar and the man punched me in the face. Rayne grabbed the man by the wrist and dragged him to the ground until I told him to ‘leave now’ and then the man ran off.

“It was all over so quickly. The adrenaline must have kicked in because I didn’t realise I had a nose bleed for a few minutes. I was too concerned about Rayne.

“I’m really proud of him for defending me.

“I think parents should be warned not to let their children walk the dogs on their own. People don’t realise how close to home this type of thing happens.”

Amy said she had heard the breed may be being used for dog baiting. Huskies can be worth over £1,000.

She said: “I think it’s disgusting. I don’t know how people can do that to dogs.”

John Duxworth, of Sibes and Sled Dogs Husky Welfare, said he had raised awareness of huskies being used for dog baiting.

He said: “It is very concerning that there may be dog baiting going on. I think that’s what the purpose of pinching the dogs is.

“They are not aggressive dogs, but if they are provoked they can be pretty savage. In a fight where they are tied up they don’t stand a chance.

One woman, from Burnley, who wished to remain anonymous, experienced a similar incident while out walking her similar looking five-month-old Alaskan Malamut last week.

She said: “I was walking down a path when two men came towards me. They stopped and asked what kind of breed he was, which isn’t unusual.

"One of the men tried to grab the lead out of my hand. They pushed me to the ground but I gripped the lead with both hands and wouldn’t let go.”

She received cuts to her face and hand and lost her wedding ring in the struggle, which was reported to police.

She described the two men as in their mid to late 20s. One was wearing blue jeans with white trainers and the other was wearing a grey hoodie.

Steve Wood, welfare officer for Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, said: “It is an underground scene. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was going on and the larger breeds were being used.

“If I find anyone using dogs for this reason I will report them to the police.

“It takes a brave man or a lunatic to take one of these dogs off its owner.”