MARY & MOLLY

MARY DOWLING, 73, from the Navan Road, Dublin, a retired clerical officer for CIE, and miniature border collie Molly. Mary says:

‘MOLLY was a Christmas puppy that was going to be put down if I or someone else hadn’t taken her. I had been looking for a companion for Maggie, my chocolate labrador, who is also a rescue dog. She was getting agitated on her own and I felt guilty. My vet does clinics for free in Ashton pound and she said, “There’s a lovely little border collie up there, I’m sure she’d get on great with Maggie.”

I went up and fell in love with her. Molly loves the television — especially the show Supervet.

She’s mad, my kitchen is destroyed, she chews the skirting boards. I got her a bed and she tore it apart, I got her another one and she did the same thing. I got her a third bed and when I came down the other morning the stuffings of it were all over the place.

Someone told me if a dog isn’t trained before six months they’ll never be trained and obviously your woman wasn’t trained at all! But she’s gorgeous and intelligent and loves playing with a ball. My sister thinks I’m mad over these dogs but I live on my own and they are great company and they keep me amused.

Whoever owned Molly as a pup must have frightened her with Christmas decorations because when I hung this big coloured bauble over the door she started shaking. I thought she’d get used to it but she didn’t and I had to take it down because she couldn’t sleep.

I don’t think dogs ever forget about the cruelty they experienced. Maggie had been chained and had a big mark under her neck, while Molly hates to be left alone. She sits looking out the window at me as I’m leaving and I always wave goodbye to her!’