Dog chews priceless rugs

6:20pm Wednesday 15th August 2001

A LUCKY hound who escaped death by a whisker to live in the lap of luxury was taken for her first walk with her new multi-millionaire owner to the Savoy Hotel but repaid him by chewing up his priceless rugs.

The Star reported last week how Holly, an 18-month old cross-breed was saved from sleeping rough on the streets of Wales.

Just hours before she was to be put down the Chiltern Dog Rescue Centre, in Ashley Green, heard of her plight and she was saved.

An Egyptian diplomat decided to take her on and she is now spending her time between living in Belgravia, London, and at the Elmwood Hotel for Dogs in The Lee, near Chartridge.

John Burton, owner of the hotel, said: "She really loves her new life. The problem is she has now started on the Persian carpets.

"He (the Egyptian diplomat) said he didn't mind but he said she has now started chewing the other one. Those things are priceless."

He added: "I got told that there is something in Persian rugs that dogs love and that's why she has started to nibble them.

"But the carpets cannot be repaired so he has had to chuck them away."

And Mr Burton's son Mark has also received his fair share of attention after appearing with Holly on the front of last week's Star. He has been inundated with calls from women asking him for a date but he has told them, although he is flattered, he is too busy to take them up on their offers.