Great Danes Shaggy and Scooby will enjoy a special ride from Hagerstown to their new home in Wisconsin this week, but it won’t be in the iconic Mystery Machine.
Thanks to the organization Pilots N Paws, the Humane Society of Washington County will be able to transfer the stray dogs by plane to the Wisconsin-based Great Dane Sanctuary.
The two dogs were brought to the shelter in October after a resident found them along Interstate 81 near a rest stop.
The dogs are about 8 years old and weigh more than 160 pounds each. One of the dogs has a prostate issue, and the other has a mass on its front leg, which could be cancerous.
The medical staff at the humane society has been caring for the dogs since their arrival at the shelter.
Kimberly Jones, the manager of volunteers and animal initiatives, said because of their advanced age and health concerns, the two dogs were not candidates for adoption. The dogs were also not candidates for euthanasia, she said.
Pilots N Paws is a group of volunteers who assist with the transportation of animals to animal shelters across the country.
Shaggy and Scooby are expected to fly from the Hagerstown Regional Airport Thursday to begin their journey to Wisconsin, weather permitting.
“We’ve never done this before. We’ve never flown dogs out of the shelter before,” Jones said. “I love the breed, as well. It’s been a pretty big deal. It’s very cool.”
The Great Dane Sanctuary offers a place for old, ill or aggressive Great Danes to live out the rest of their lives. The sanctuary can house up to 14 Great Danes in a “home-like” setting, according to its website.
Jones said she is happy the dogs will be going to a loving home for “whatever time they have left.”
“The rescue takes in dogs that are generally deemed not adoptable and gives them a place to be,” Jones said. “They’re going to have a great life with whatever time they have left. That’s what matters.”