Jolly Molly leaves trail of disruption
MOLLY the Beagle invaded the world on October 27, 2008 and she has just celebrated her 10th birthday.
My daughter got her for her new husband as a surprise gift and she certainly provided plenty of surprise. She turned out to be a cross between a hurricane and a typhoon, who left a trail of destruction in her wake. No fence or closed door was a match for her ingenuity, or alert spirit, and after about six months she had exhausted the patience and goodwill of her new owner.
When she was in turn “gifted” to our house, the first thing she was attracted to was one of my fine brand-new leather shoes. Our challenge was then to try to outthink Molly. Apart from rustling and chewing through anything that smelt interesting, she proceeded to chew her way through several mobile phones and the staff in UPC were entertained by the number of TV remote controls they had to replace for us — “was that Molly again?” Anything you touched, or handled, had to be thoroughly investigated.
We had a collie and a terrier when Molly arrived and, being a pack dog by nature, she inveigled her way into her new family. She happily shared their beds.
Her finest moment has to be very shortly after she first arrived at our house, when she managed to scale the 8ft rear garden wall. My husband was in a panic looking for her and phoned our sonin-law (her previously stressed owner) who lives a 15-minute walk away, crossing a couple of roads. He was visiting a friend in his area when he heard a patter of paws and Molly had found her way back to him! We also discovered that she had her own agenda when out and about and would never come to attention until it suited her. No matter how desperate you were, and how much you tried to coax or cajole, Molly entirely suited herself. She still hates the car, or any confinement, and is happy to relax under a blanket which she carefully envelops muftistyle around herself.
She is a good-natured dog and loves to get out and about, sniffing at leisure and has never lost her appetite for checking out bins, pockets and bags. She surfaces for morning porridge, and anything meaty can be smelt at a distance. Over the years she has provided much stress but also laughter and companionship, so happy 10th birthday Molly. Anne Kavanagh, Limerick
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