Rescued Scooby celebrates a whole year free from chains with special greeting from Peter Egan in Parliament Square
A rescue dog who spent his entire life chained outside has celebrated a whole year of freedom, with a special message from actor and animal welfare campaigner Peter Egan.
Scooby endured more than 12 years of neglect before finally finding safety and a loving home with campaigner Eduardo Gonçalves and his wife, Marisa, in Gosport, Hampshire.
Now, a year after escaping his chain, the affectionate dog has marked the milestone with a greeting from Egan, patron of the Unchained Campaign, which works to end the permanent chaining of dogs.
Standing in Parliament Square, Peter said: "Hi Scooby, Peter Egan here. I just want to congratulate you on your first year of being adopted. So it's your adopted birthday, your first birthday after 12 years of being on a chain and you are just the most wonderful dog.
"Everybody loves you and everybody supports you and I want to encourage all of those people to also support the Unchained campaign on all the social media outlets."
For Eduardo and Marisa, both 58, the anniversary is a celebration of the ordinary pleasures Scooby was denied for so long, which include a comfortable bed, companionship and the freedom to choose where he goes.
Eduardo said: “A whole year without a chain is an extraordinary milestone for Scooby. For more than 12 years, his entire world was limited by how far that chain would let him move. Now he can explore, rest somewhere comfortable and come to us whenever he wants affection.
“To receive a special message from Peter Egan makes this anniversary even more meaningful. Peter understands that every dog deserves kindness and freedom, and his support helps us give a voice to the dogs who are still waiting for their chance.”
Scooby was rescued from a terraced urban property in northern Portugal, in an area characterised by social problems.
He was starved, suffering from severe mange and reportedly beaten by drunken neighbours. He had spent his entire life on a chain.
Local animal rescuers Joana Faria and La Salete Gomes, from Famalicão Sem Correntes, spent nearly two years persuading his owners to surrender him before finally securing his release.
Eduardo helped coordinate the rescue before welcoming Scooby into the home he shares with Marisa.
The neglected dog has since become an affectionate family companion, spending his days choosing between the sofa, an armchair and his own bed, and demanding morning belly rubs.
Marisa said: “The loveliest thing is watching Scooby make his own choices. He can decide where to sleep, wander over for a cuddle or simply enjoy being close to us. Those little moments mean so much when you think about everything he missed.
“He has brought so much love into our home. We cannot give him back the years he spent chained up, but we can make sure the rest of his life is filled with comfort, affection and happiness.”
Scooby also returned to Portugal for a holiday, where he shared an emotional reunion with the women who rescued him.
He sprinted towards them with his tail wagging before showering them with kisses, leaving both rescuers visibly emotional.
His remarkable journey inspired Eduardo and Marisa to launch the Unchained Campaign, with Scooby becoming its first ambassador. Peter Egan is a patron of the campaign, alongside Dr Marc Abraham OBE (Marc the Vet).
The campaign raises awareness of the suffering caused by permanent chaining and encourages owners to give dogs freedom, companionship and proper care.
It also highlights the dangers facing chained dogs during extreme heat, when they may be unable to reach shade or adequate water, and during wildfires, when tethered animals cannot escape advancing flames.
The campaign warns that these concerns extend beyond Portugal, with hot weather putting dogs at risk across Europe, including in the UK.
Eduardo said: “Scooby’s story shows that it is never too late to transform a dog’s life, but there are still dogs spending every day at the end of a chain.
“Extreme heat brings another terrible danger. A chained dog may have no way to reach shelter or escape the conditions that can cause heatstroke. If a wildfire approaches, that same chain can leave them trapped.
“Scooby has had a whole year of freedom. We want every dog still living as he once did to have that same chance.”
Find out more about the Unchained Campaign:
