Ralf Little spends thousands flying stray dog Dora 2,335 miles from Guadeloupe to his US home

Ralf Little spent thousands flying a stray dog 2,335 miles from Guadeloupe to his US home after finding her abandoned on the set of Death In Paradise. 

The actor, 41, spent months filming the crime drama on the Caribbean island, and splashed out ‘around £2,000’ on adopting the pup, named Dora, after she stole his heart. 

The Royle Family star explained that the pooch was originally intended to be flown to the UK and re-homed with a family, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the plan fell through.

Ralf, who plays DI Neville Parker in the Caribbean crime drama, christened the abandoned dog Dora when the ‘little explorer’ first bounded on to the set.

She was first adopted by the costume department, who arranged for her to be rehomed with a family in the UK when filming ended.

But lockdown meant it wasn’t possible to fly dogs to the UK, so Ralf flew Dora to Miami so she could live with him and fiancee Lindsey Ferrentino in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

He told The Mirror: ‘You wouldn’t believe the effort it took. I probably spent about £2,000. But she’s gorgeous.’

Since Dora landed in the US and has been reunited with Ralf, the actor has shared various videos of the pooch settling into her new home. 

The Two Pints of Lager star documented the process of getting Dora to Miami, and the nervous wait for her at the airport. 

Ralf plays DI Neville Parker on Death In Paradise, joining the show last year during series nine.  

Parker landed in the Caribbean as the quintessential Brit abroad: struggling with mosquitos, mopping his sweaty brow and slathering himself with sunscreen before he even left the airport.

The introduction was met with praise by fans at home at the time, who said the character – the fourth leading detective in nine series – has ‘already made the show funnier’.

Ralf follows in the footsteps of Ben Miller, Kris Marshall and Ardal O’Hanlon, who have played the previous British detectives on the island.