The collar is disconnected from the leash by activating the mechanism in the handle assembly of the leash. The collar is fitted with a short cable which extends generally radially from the collar. A small cylinder or sphere is attached to the free end of this cable. There is a flared fitting at the end of the leash opposite to the handle end. The collar and leash are connected by trapping the cylinder or sphere in the flared fitting. The leash is a sheathed cable. The tension loads in the leash are carried by the cable. One end of the cable is anchored in the leash handle. There is a second cylinder or sphere attached to its other end and located in the flared fitting when the leash and collar are connected. The second cylinder or sphere retains the first in the flared fitting which is attached to the sheath. When the mechanism in the handle is activated, the mechanism moves the sheath along the cable so that the flared fitting is moved and no longer surrounds the cylinders (or spheres) and the one can no longer retain the other and disconnection is effected. In one embodiment of the invention the mechanism in the handle is reset by pulling the sheath out of the handle.