Harrogate jet-setting dog prepares for American adventure

Scooby the Great Dane is getting ready for his next big adventure as the jet setting dog prepares to fly to his new home in the USA.

His favourite squeaky toys are packed and long walks in the countryside of North Carolina await Scooby on the other side of the Atlantic.

American couple Marge and Tom Holleman have split their time between Harrogate and their home in North Carolina after Tom’s job at Menwith Hill brought the pair to the area in 2003.

Last year they fostered Scooby from Miss Mollies during their four month stay in Harrogate, but as he was due to be adopted by another family they left him behind when they flew back to the States.

“We just fell in love him, how could you not?” said Marge.

“He is such a lovely, friendly dog, we were heartbroken to leave him.”

However Scooby’s planned new home fell through and when Tom and Marge returned to stay in Harrogate this summer they welcomed him back into their home and started planning to take him back to North Carolina with them.

Tom said: “He has got his passport ready, we just couldn’t leave him behind again. He was so delighted to see us when we came back so we know he is happy with us.”

Scooby will fly to his new home in Seven Lakes, North Caroline next month, however it won’t be the four-year-old pup’s first taste of foreign travel.

Scooby was rescued from a Spanish alleyway by a British expat who contacted Jeanne Thompson at Miss Mollies dog rescue in Harrogate.

She said: “All of the strays were being rounded up and this expat saw and rescued him, he paid for him to stay in kennels and to travel to be with us.

“I was told we were getting a Jack Russell so I got a bit of a shock when I went to pick him up and saw the size of him.

“But he is a lovely dog, I will miss him dearly but this is what we want, for the dogs we to find their forever homes.”

Marge added: “People are worried about getting rescue dogs or big dogs but from our experience they make the greatest pets. They are so loving and get on so well with our grandchildren and we hope he settles with our other dog Kaiko the Aikita.”

Miss Mollies dog rescue charity has gone from strength to strength since it received charity status in January 2015.

The organisation now has a fundraising charity shop on Regent Parade in Harrogate and last month founder Jeanne made it to the final four in the Yorkshire round of the Pride of Britain awards.

Miss Mollies are still looking for land to build kennels as currently 19 recue dogs live with Jeanne, call 01423 887821 if you can help.