Molly: The True Story of the Amazing Dog Who Rescues Cats
by Colin ButcherSetting: England
Published on October 8, 2019
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover Source: Owned
Molly tells the heartwarming story of the man-and-dog team behind the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency—how Colin, in need of a new lease on life, rescues Molly the dog, and how Molly in turn rescues many more beloved lost pets.
As a veteran of the Royal Navy and longtime police officer, Colin Butcher was no stranger to dangerous situations. But a career in uniform can wear anyone down, so, in 2003, Colin left the force to start his own private detective agency, specializing in helping reunite people with their missing pets. And yet, despite his hundreds of successes, there were still heartbreaking cases where Colin couldn’t find the missing on his own. He knew he needed a partner.
When Colin first met Molly, his friends doubted that she would be up for the job. Where Colin was battle-tested, Molly was young and inexperienced. She was willful, wayward, and stubborn. But Colin could tell that Molly was unusually charismatic and intelligent. He decided to take a risk and bring on Molly for training.
Yes, Molly is no ordinary deputy, but a black Cocker Spaniel, and this is no ordinary detective agency. Trained by the top canine behavioral experts at Medical Detection Dogs, Molly can find missing cats—who are uniquely skilled at eluding humans—by detecting a unique scent signature, and she has been wildly successful.
The work is not always easy. Molly has faced hardships ranging from a near-fatal snakebite to the challenge of winning over Colin’s girlfriend, Sarah. But through it all, Colin and Molly share an enduring love and affection. More than a working relationship, Molly is part of the family. Together, they are the Sherlock and Watson of missing pets.
Cats who get outside are horrible to try to find, especially if they are in a environment that they aren’t familiar with. They don’t generally come to their humans even if they are close by. They try their best to stay hidden even when it isn’t the best thing for them.
I tried to use my dog to help me find a missing cat once. She wouldn’t tell me where he went. I also just recently had a cat go missing. She was in the house and hiding because we had a guest. We tore the house apart looking for her and never did find her. She showed up on her own about 24 hours later. That just shows how cats can melt into their surroundings when they feel the need to hide.
This book shows the process of training a dog to search for cats. She has to be energetic but not too scary. She has to find the cats but not spook them and make them run farther. It is a delicate balance.
You also get to hear about many cases of missing animals. Not all of them have happy endings so beware. I also didn’t know that in England dog theft is a big criminal activity to the point where the author’s agency doesn’t get involved much anymore after all the credible death threats they have received.
This is a quick, easy read for the animal lovers in your life.
