KEEPING these star-crossed lovers apart is like trying to separate Romeo and Juliet.

The affair began when stray dog 'Dangerous' lured pet pooch Pat away from the garden of her home at Lower Sunnyhurst Farm, Darwen, three weeks ago.

The two terriers have since spent many intimate afternoons tiptoeing through the local woods.

Now Pat's owner, Helena Howarth, fears that the patter of tiny paws is imminent.

She said: "They are quite a good match - they are a real pair.

"At the moment we are calling the dog 'Dangerous', but 'Randy' might be more appropriate!

"He installed himself outside the front door waiting for his moment. The two of them managed to rattle the latch of the door free and off they went.

"I am almost certain that Pat is pregnant. They have been strolling in the woods together, and I think that we may have a lot of little 'Randys' on our hands soon."

The dog is being well cared for at the Howarth's home, but Helena is convinced that he may be from a good home and that someone is missing a much loved pet.

"We don't mind looking after the dog, but we both work full time so we can't keep him forever.

"We rang the police to see if anyone is missing a dog, but it has not been reported. It is very well behaved and has been house trained. "It has been well looked after which leads me to believe that someone must be missing it."

"We don't want to take it to a dogs home because we don't want it to be put down. We just want to find its rightful owner, or find it a good home."

Helena is trying desperately to keep the two dogs apart, but the petting pooches are proving to be inseparable. Terriers are known to be loving and highly intelligent.

"My husband Bill is a builder and he's been taking Dangerous to work with him.

"But as soon as his back is turned he runs off and makes his way back to the garden of the house."

Jeanette Ainscough, Manager of the RSPCA sanctuary at Altham said: "If the bitch is in season then the owner must try to keep the dogs apart, because the male will not stop trying to get at the female.

"It is virtually impossible.

"Male dogs will travel miles if they get the scent of a bitch in season and their scent can travel a long way."

"We would advise Mrs Howarth to ask a vet to check for an identification microchip."