Molly's Happy Tail

From Amy:

Molly 

After running Saturday errands on October 8, 2010, I took my two little boys to PetSmart as a reward for being good.  They love the “free zoo.”  As we pulled up I thought, “Oh, no – It’s dog adoption day,” but I had promised to let them see the animals and so we headed toward the entrance.  Of course, my three year old, Kyle, shot toward the puppies and as they were all jumping around, I was thinking “I do not want a dog!” 



You see, my experience of growing up with an aggressive dog wasn’t a fond childhood memory.  It has always made it harder to want to risk the chance of adopting another aggressive dog – so I’ve always just adopted cats instead.  Furthermore, I was trying to raise two kids by myself while my husband was deployed to Afghanistan.  No, I did NOT want a dog.


And then I heard Kyle say, “Mommy, I fink dis one can go home wid us.”  I was ready to give him a firm, “No” when I looked down and there was Molly, sitting calmly and politely and just reveling in the attention she was getting from Kyle.  Her eager-to-please brown eyes looked up at me and she nuzzled my hand.  Well, it was all over right at that moment.  I forgot about the bad childhood memories and the fact that I already had two kids and two cats to take care of at home.  I knew that if we were ever going to attempt to have a dog in our family, this one had to be it.  Her personality was just…perfect.


In the months that followed I realized how much more we needed Molly than she needed us.  It was the best love connection that could have been made.  She became a companion for Kyle to play with since his baby brother was too small, and she helped fill the hole in my heart that I was experiencing with my husband gone.  Molly is the best at snuggling and I didn’t realize how much I needed that comfort.  Even Kyle and Kaleb have an extra “mom” now – Molly has decided it’s her role to help take care of the boys.  She checks on them when they cry and barks at people that she thinks are playing too rough with them. 


My husband, Chris, always wanted a big dog.  He always talked about Huskies or Shepherds.  I came home with Molly…she weighed 25 pounds and looked bigger in pictures than she did in person.  I was incredibly nervous for him to meet her when he came home on R&R.  His immediate reaction was just as I expected.  He said, “She’s a lot smaller than I thought she’d be.”  (Uh, oh.)  Then he added, “But she’s the right size for us with the boys being so little and she’s a really sweet dog.”  (Yay!)  Molly was hesitant about this new man in our lives, but after some treats and some romping, she decided Chris could stay. 


It’s October 8, 2011 – We’ve had Molly one year today.  When I saw Molly, I knew her size and temperament would be right for our family, but I had no idea how perfect she would really be.  She has come into our lives and changed them for the better.  Who knew that a black ball of fur could provide so much love and companionship?  I have so much praise for Molly – she’s calm and sweet and very obedient.  She LOVES to run and has become our exercise buddy.  She watches after the kids.  She travels with us.  She is there if we need hugs and snuggles.  A year ago, I didn’t want a dog.  Molly is so much more than a DOG.


When I adopted Molly, APAC told me that she was going to be put down at the shelter the same day they rescued her.  Thank you, APAC, for saving part of our family.  We wouldn’t know what to do without her.

 

I am just (almost) at a loss for words. Touched by the sweetness of Molly's tale. Humbled by the strength Amy has shown; not only in getting past the bad experiences of childhood to see the good dog in Molly, but also her strength in taking on a new family member while her husband was deployed.

Something so wonderful about the APAC is that our dogs & cats are fostered, you know the good homes they are coming from. You can find out all about their personalities before you adopt.

This is a beautiful story, thank you Amy, for sharing.