A very dear friend of the blog (mostly a lurker) and personal friend passes along this crisis:
Hello Everyone, this is Molly. Molly and her Mom Joanne have been through the ringer this year. Joanne had a stroke this spring and has been in and out of the hospital ever since. She is about two weeks away from surgery to reattach a portion of her skull that was removed to alleviate some of the swelling, but has a long road ahead of her that will likely include rehab and some type of assisted living facility. She is currently at my sisters – as is Molly, but that is only temporary. It is likely that Joanne will not be able to care for Molly on her own once she is recovered, which is breaking her heart.
My sister already has two dogs, two rabbits and twin teenage girls, so you can imagine it is a zoo right now over there. We are all looking for some type of answer for sweet little Molly, who is going through all of this through no fault of her own. I thought I’d reach out to the Balloon Juice community. Even though I’m a “lurker” as John likes to call us – I’ve been here since the beginning and have seen this community do amazing things. My kitties Clarence (RIP) and Cleo even made the calendar! So I’m hoping maybe we have another amazing thing we can help with – a great new home for Molly and peace of mind for Joanne.
We think Molly is about 6-7 years old – but she was a stray herself so that isn’t exact. She’s high energy for sure – but has been getting along fine with my sister’s two dogs. My sister has a three-legged dog Molly has been bullying a bit – but not aggressively and a lot of that could be because she went from being an only dog to one of three. My sister’s other dog is smaller than both of them and still runs the roost, so to speak.
She hasn’t been around cats, so we’re unsure about that. But she is a very sweet and affectionate girl, loves to cuddle and is responsive to commands. I’ve been with her myself and she’s friendly, not at all shy and an all-around very good girl. If anyone can help, or has ideas for a potential home, we would all be so extremely grateful. We’re willing to help with any transportation and assist with costs, the most important thing is we want to find this girl a great home. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this!
Now I am no expert actually I’m the last thing from an expert considering my dogs have been Lily, Rosie, and Thurston so basically I am one for three which is pretty shitty but .333 is all star material in the major leagues, but Molly looks like a really sweet dog and I think she is just beautiful, and I like the longing gaze and the smile and the ornery ear, and I think with a little love she would make a fabulous housemate. So if you are interested, please email me and let’s give Molly the home she needs and her mom Joanne the peace she needs so she can focus on recovery.
Sidenote: I would really like to see more of the chairs and that what appears to be mid century modern coffee table.
Old School
Where is Molly currently living?
rikyrah
Molly is ?
I hope that she finds a home??
Will pitch in for transportation$$$
satby
If I can offer advice: have a local humane society do a Safer test with Molly and cats. Finding out she’s unsafe to cats after she’s in a home with them will be even more disruptive.
Another Scott
@Old School: That was my question, also too.
A clever polymath could probably work it out from the angle of the shadows and a few other clues. But not me.
Good luck to Molly and her mom.
Cheers,
Scott.
John Cole
South Jersey is where she currently resides.
jeffreyw
How much does she weigh?
zhena gogolia
@jeffreyw: A lady doesn’t answer that question
ETA: Molly is beautiful.
Kate
@jeffreyw: I’m terrible with estimating weights but she is a medium sized dog.
raven
She looks like a black Artemis!!!!
CaseyL
She looks like a darling. If she winds up coming to Washington or Oregon, I can help with driving.
KrakenJack
Is John highjacking his own post with an interior design aside?
BTW, best of luck to Molly on a new home.
WaterGirl
It breaks my heart that Joanne is going through all of this and has to give up her beloved dog on top of that.
I am gonna guess from the photo that Molly weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 pounds.
raven
@John Cole: I sent you and WG an email.
WaterGirl
@Kate: Your first comment here has to be manually approved, and it doesn’t show up for the rest of us until then. Any future comments will show up for everyone right away.
I assume you are John’s friend – I have to say that you wrote a most excellent description of Molly and of the situation.
Lurk less, comment more.
Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)
We can’t take in another dog right now, but I can help with getting her where she needs to go.
Kate
@WaterGirl: thank you and thank you all for taking the time to read. I am “the friend” and I always get so overwhelmed by the comments, and peoples’ (usually very well said) takes and keeping up when all I can manage is “aarrgghh I’m so angry right now” haha. When I have some time I’m a bit more eloquent :).
MazeDancer
Such a pretty pup!
South Jersey could be less than a day’s drive to a lot of places, so many people could meet up halfway.
In for gas/transport, of course.
What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?
I would take her but my current dog is not that good on the leash and never has been – she will follow her nose wherever even right out in front of a car or bike, so walking the two together would be dicey. Even if Molly is very good on the leash I still wouldn’t be able to spare a hand at times trying to keep my current one from chasing a scent out into traffic. She has the exact same build and sleek coat as my dog but ours is a orangy red color a shade lighter than a Vizsla.
Omnes Omnibus
@Kate: Try commenting in the respite, pet, culture, and garden threads until you get comfortable. Less contentious (usually) and slower paced. Also, people will start to recognize your ‘nym. That should make wading into the more political and angry threads a little easier.
I will stop mansplaining now.
creature_NYC
Just sent this to my relatives in South NJ. Can help with $$ if needed.
Belle
I am Joanne’s granddaughter and I am currently living with Molly. Molly is very energetic but when she is calm she is the sweetest thing. She loves her belly rubs and loves to sit right on your feet or in between your legs. She is a pit bull and border collie mix so she is also incredibly smart too.
Lynne Johnson
@Old School: New Jersey. About 15 minutes outside downtown Philadelphia
@Old School:
S. Cerevisiae
Beautiful pup! Hope she finds a good home.
Today is the 9th anniversary of rescuing my Bella, well actually she rescued me too. She is a sweet German Shedder and I love her so much ❤️
Lynne Johnson
@WaterGirl: thank you so much for reading this, and I agree that my sister has a way with words. My name is Lynne and I am so thankful for this post and platform to help Molly find a forever loving home. Molly is around 35 lbs, she has lost a bit due to the stress of what has happened.
Lynne Johnson
@creature_NYC: thank you so much ??
RedDirtGirl
@Belle: Would she do well in a city? I live in brooklyn and am planning to get my first dog one day soon. I’m looking for an older dog that is a known quantity. I can handle energetic as I live near a park and like to walk a lot, but is she pretty well trained? Good on the leash? reactive to other dogs she meets?
ETA: Any chance of getting a few more pix? And I’d be very interested to know if she falls over or under 40lbs…
Suzanne
***wipes tear***
I’m so proud, Cole.
RedDirtGirl
I keep editing my first comment to get it right. I have always wondered if I could be lucky enough to end up with a Balloon Juice dog!!!!
Betty Cracker
@RedDirtGirl: Please see Lynne’s comments above, which fell into the moderation pool until I released them (Lynne, that shouldn’t happen again — we moderate first-time comments to keep the trolls at bay). Looks like Molly is right at 35 lbs, which maybe fits your criteria!
zhena gogolia
@RedDirtGirl: I hope it works out! She looks so wonderful.
satby
@Belle: Yeah, I suspected pit mix by the markings. Now I love pit mixes, and they can be excellent pets, *but* they can be territorial with a strong prey drive toward smaller animals like cats. Which is why I suggested a Safer test (it’s actually a whole series). My very good boy Hershey, who I lost in 2019, was the most wonderful pit-lab mix. 120lbs of pure snuggles and love; except for cats. He never killed one, but he injured two, mostly by the size mismatch. I spent 11 years keeping the cats and dogs separated to prevent mayhem through a series of double door exits. Very few people are as nuts as I am. I would specify a no cat house without testing to be sure everyone will get along (the clue is the slight bullying of the other dog).
WaterGirl
@Lynne Johnson: I am sorry you are all having to go through this. I suspect there is a really good chance that Molly ends up with a home here. Balloon Juice dogs get a lot of love.
WaterGirl
@RedDirtGirl: It sounds like even if Molly gains back the few pounds she lost due to stress, she would be right at 40 or below.
I hope something works out.
jeffreyw
Mrs J will gladly take Molly if she could count on help with the driving. email sent to John Cole
RedDirtGirl
@Lynne Johnson: If public transit from Philly isn’t to difficult, I’d be happy to hop on the train and come down for a day to visit her and see if we’re a match. Let me know if that would work.
Mary G
She’s a good girl, but energetic and possibly not good with cats isn’t a good fit for me. I’m in to help with transport costs. Hope she works out for you,
@RedDirtGirl: I love a happy Balloon Juice ending!
raven
If her ears were up they really look alike.
Kate
I’ll check in with my sis on all the questions – leash etc. We will definitely help with any transportation and could even do some face timing if needed. Cat safety test is definitely something we can arrange if that is a question.
Betty Cracker
@raven: Awww, what a sweetie. Glad she’s doing well.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: With all the border collies you have had, you would certainly know how to handle an energetic dog!
jeffreyw
@WaterGirl: Brittany dogs, but yeah. Six cats, so a cat chaser is not good.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: oh, that’s right, sorry!
Yeah, need to do the cat testing for sure.
Spanky
A run from Athens to Jersey is eminently doable. Just sayin’.
Also too, that coffee table could be French Provincial, based on the tiny bit of detail and the chair leg we’re given.
SiubhanDuinne
I’ll throw in some transportation $$$ once everything has settled. Whoever ends up with beautiful Molly is a lucky jackal!
And a big welcome to our former lurkers.
Juju
Molly is a beautiful dog and I am looking and ready for a smart girl, but I don’t think she would be a good match with my 88 year old mother who has osteoporosis. If I didn’t have that issue I’d take Molly yesterday. I vote for RedDirtGirl and will help with expenses.
Jenny Howard
I’ll be happy to throw in on any costs. Balloon Juice rescues are the best! Along with every other happy rescue. ?
SiubhanDuinne
@raven:
You and your bride lucked out with this gorgeous girl. She looks like an absolute sweetie.
Lynne Johnson
@Old School: she’s currently in South Jersey, about 15 mins outside of Philadelphia
Lynne Johnson
@rikyrah: thank you so much for your best wishes for Molly. ??
Lynne Johnson
@satby: thank you for the advice. We will certainly look into that!
Belle
@RedDirtGirl: My grandmom lived in a half a double with a small yard and Molly was walked everyday. She walks good on a leash too. We think Molly will do better if she is the only dog because she tends to get jealous when the attention is not on her lol. I think she would do well as long as there are no other dogs in the house:)
raven
@SiubhanDuinne: Indeed we did, she is so good!
Belle
@RedDirtGirl: Also Molly is under a lot of stress right now so she has lost a lot of weight. I would estimate that she is around 35-40 pounds but I’m not fully sure.
Kate
I don’t think there is a way to add pics to the comments? I can send more to John with maybe a video to get a better idea of her size.
WaterGirl
@Kate: You can send photos either to me or to John, and we’ll get them up. If you have video on YouTube, it’s easy to embed that and share it with everyone.
Are you guys pursuing things with RedDirtGirl, a visit so they can meet?
My email is my screen name at balloon-juice.com, in case you want to send them to me.
RedDirtGirl
@WaterGirl: I sent my email to John to pass on.
Laura Too
@RedDirtGirl: I’m in for any transport or other costs as well. She is beautiful!
Tonyds
My wife and I live a out 90 minutes drive from Philly. We’re fine with making the drive to pick her up. I’ve posted a few stories about some of the 18 dogs we’ve had in the last 22, most of which are seniors. Our latest pack member is about 12 and needs daily eye drops. She’s incredibly sweet, unless you get between her and food.
WaterGirl
@Tonyds: I can’t quite tell if you are offering to help with transport or you are saying you would like to take Molly?
Lynne Johnson
@RedDirtGirl: I am getting some pictures and video this afternoon and will send so they can be posted.
RedDirtGirl
An update, which I will work into an open thread as well at some point later. I have spoken with Molly’s current host, and will FaceTime with them tonight or in the morning, then take it from there. I will keep you all posted!
RedDirtGirl
@Lynne Johnson: thank you. ?
MazeDancer
@RedDirtGirl:
Good news! Looking forward to update. Best of luck!
WaterGirl
@RedDirtGirl: Fingers crossed for all!
RedDirtGirl
Hi Jackals, RDG here with my update on Molly. I just finished Facetiming with Molly’s mom’s son. She’s a beauty, there’s no doubt about it. I didn’t actually get to see too much of her since she had just woken up from a nap and was on the move, but I learned a lot more about her.
She ticks off a number of boxes on my wish list:
Older, mid-sized, short-haired, active, likes to lean up against you, and what I think of as the holy grail – from a loving home.
She has allergies that require specialized food (hydrolyzed) and medication: desyrel, anafranil, and a third (can’t see the label in the photo they sent). Without these she licks her paws, scratches and has dandruff and, I think, rashes. I will research this a bit, but I don’t think it means more than a modest increase in my monthly expenses.
As a first time dog adopter, I have been holding out for an older dog with the idea that I would find one that was on the mellower side of the spectrum. Not because I’m a couch potato, but so that its youthful exuberance was a thing of the past. Molly is a young 7. It’s a bit hard to get a read on her usual level. While she clearly has a lot of energy, some of that comes from the stimulation of her current environment.There are two other dogs where she has been for the past 4 months, and she would be a singleton in my apartment.
I have 2 concerns that I know you guys can’t resolve for me, but I’m happy for your thoughts.
Will she be a big barker? She is definitely a vocalizer. At her mom’s house, which was a double, she didn’t bark when the neighbor who shared the stoop came in, but did bark when the letter carrier arrived. I live in an apartment building where people are walking by my door throughout the day, and some of them have dogs.
How will she do at home when I am at work? Her mom has been retired for a while, and for the past few months she has been in a house full of people. I am planning on working from home for the first week she stays with me, if she moves in, of course, but that is a big unknown. And re:crating, they tried it when she was a puppy and she hated it. I’d certainly be willing to work on it again.
Okay, there you have it.
Please feel free to weigh in…
Reply
Kate
@RedDirtGirl: I don’t have much advice – those are definitely important considerations for whether she’s the right pup for you, but whatever happens, I just wanted to thank you for your huge heart ❤️
Lynne Johnson
@RedDirtGirl:
Hi RDG~
I wanted to thank you for your time speaking with Rich the other day. I just wanted to clarify a few things regarding Molly’s meds. She has been in one of the meds due to a good allergy because it causes her to lick her paws. I tried to change her food to a grain free no poultry food by Rachel Ray but since I have two other dogs, she was not eating just that food but both so I think if she’s the only dog in the home, the grain free no poultry would work. The other two meds are from her continued stress. I helps her to relax a bit. I want to thank you again for reaching out and considering Molly???