Rehoming Molly:

The First Glimpse

I first came across Molly when Willow Tree Sanctuary posted an adoption ad for her litter of puppies. In one of the photos, a little red nose peeked through in the background—Molly’s. A closer look and a few questions later, I learned she had been rescued during pregnancy and placed into foster care until her pups were born and found homes.

Trying to Meet Her

I wanted to meet her right away, but she was staying well outside my usual service areas, and the timing just didn’t line up. Weeks passed. Then I got word—Molly was being temporarily moved to the Gold Coast Pet Resort while a new carer was found.

Our First Meeting

When I finally met her, I was taken aback by how small she was—absolutely tiny. She was curled into the corner of her kennel, shaking uncontrollably and clearly overwhelmed. The resort was busy that day, and the barking dogs around her only added to her fear.

I sat with her for over an hour, but she didn’t move. She was frozen, shut down, and completely unsure of me or her environment. It was heartbreaking to see her in that state. All I could do was be a calm presence and make a plan to start building her confidence slowly.

A Different Dog

On our second session, the staff brought her out, and the difference was remarkable. She was still cautious, still uncertain, but no longer paralysed. She had started to settle into her surroundings, and although she kept her distance—she’s a ladies’ lady after all—she was more receptive.

Building Trust

Since then, we’ve spent hours getting to know each other. I’ve been working out where she feels most confident and what situations shut her down. She’s still scared of so much, and it’s hard to get a photo without her tail tucked tightly between her legs.

But in small moments, she lets go. She runs. She plays. She smiles. She gets to be a dog.

Most of our time together has been spent on long-line walks—not strict obedience, just freedom to explore. I want her to choose to come back to me, not be forced. Building trust takes time, and with dogs like Molly, it has to be done gently.