When newlyweds Ralf and Yvonne Teubert forked out a four-figure sum for a month-long honeymoon in New Zealand they could not have known it would end up costing them almost double.

For when they returned to their home in Salisbury Road, Seaford, they found their beloved dog Scooby had run up a bill from the vets which cost almost as much as the holiday itself.

After tying the knot at Lewes Register Office, the couple jetted off to New Zealand to catch some of the America's Cup sailing event.

Their Labrador/collie cross Scooby, who came from a rescue centre, had been left with the Teuberts' good friends and neighbours John and Helen Lawley, who live in their road.

What the Lawleys had not discovered - and the Teuberts were going to find out - know was that Scooby had a taste for raiding waste bins.

Just days after his owners had left the country, a nightmare began which eventually involved Scooby needing emergency surgery to save his life.

It started when Scooby started being sick.

Mr Lawley said: "He was vomiting quite badly and became very lethargic so we decided it would be best to take him to the vet."

The Lawleys took him to Karen Scott at Pet Doctors in Seaford. Scooby was put through a series of tests which discovered a foreign body in his stomach.

Miss Scott said: "This had caused his bowel to concertina and the membranes surrounding his abdominal organs were inflamed.

"He was in a critical condition and emergency surgery was the only option to save his life."

Mrs Teubert said: "It must have been horrendous for John.

"He had to decide if to go ahead with the operation. Scooby could have died and John had to make the call."

The vet removed a mixture of a demolished tennis ball, netting from a roast joint as well as plastic, paper and plant material from the Scooby's stomach.

Mrs Teubert said: "I think he had raided their rubbish bin.

"They have a pedal bin and I think he flipped the lid up. We hadn't trained him not to.

"They were sending us emails while we were in New Zealand but they never mentioned anything was wrong because they didn't want to worry us."

Following the surgery in February, Scooby required dedicated medical support from the Lawleys to help him return to his normal self.

When the Teuberts returned home on St Valentine's Day, their pet was back in good health, although their bank balance was looking a little sicker.

The final bill for Scooby's care came to almost the same as the price of their honeymoon.

But Mr Teubert praised his neighbours and the vet.

He said: "We think he's worth it but now consider him not so much a pet, more of a luxury."

Mrs Teubert added: "I felt very sorry for our neighbours.

"They had to give him intensive nursing. I don't know if they'll look after him again.

"The last thing I did before I left was to give them the vet's address. I never thought he would need to go."

Scooby, who collects plastic bottles from the beach every day during walks, was given the all-clear at his last appointment.