Molly, a golden retriever, has a way with making other animals feel welcomed around her. Dogs, cats, pigs, goats, horses – Molly loves them all. She gets plenty of opportunity to fine tune her “people” skills at the Carolina Equine Rescue and Assistance (CERA). It is a nonprofit that cares for abused, neglected and abandoned horses. She makes all the animals that the family rescues feel like they have someone there who is on their side from day one.
“She just goes up with a wagging tail, and sniffs them and licks them like a long-lost friend,” Darlene Kindle, founder of CERA, told The Dodo.
Image by Darlene Kindle
When Sammie, an emaciated silver dapple miniature horse, arrived at the rescue earlier this month, the 3-year-old dog knew he needed help. Sammie had been found by an animal control officer in July. She was barely skin and bones, and had been wandering the streets of South Carolina. Animal control could tell Sammie had been neglected. She needed to be treated with care to make it through the following days.
Image by Darlene Kindle
Assessment at Local Veterinary Clinic
The vet examined Sammie and found the horse to be 100 pounds underweight. He also had painful dental issues and a possible birth defect causing issues with his hind legs. The vet announced the bad news to animal control. The time and expenses alone were substantial, but without a proper rescue to take Sammie, he would have to be euthanized.
Image by Darlene Kindle
That’s when animal control reached out to Kindle in hopes of finding Sammie a home. Kindle called the vet to see what treating the horse would entail.
“I asked him a whole bunch of questions, and my last question to him was, ‘Does he have the will to live in his eyes?’” Kindle said. “The vet immediately said, ‘Yes,’ and I said, ‘OK, I’ll take him. If he’s willing to fight the fight, then I’ll help him do that.’”
Finally, Sammie arrived at the rescue. He proved to Kindle that he had the will to live! “He immediately put his head to the ground and started gobbling grass,” Kindle said.
Image by Darlene Kindle
After family rescues the sick horse, Molly gives her greeting!
Molly was there to welcome the newcomer! Of course, Sammie was too busy for the dog, he was currently preoccupied with fresh grass. However, Molly paid him a visit later that night.
“It was later that evening, after Sammie got bedded down — I don’t sleep well at night so I was out here sitting in the rocking chair — and Molly was with me and she just walked over to him,” Kindle said.
Kindle pulled out her phone and captured the sweet interaction.
Hey everyone. I have to tell all of you never in a million years did I expect this little video to have so much popularity. I just put it out there with no caption so let me add a little background to this. This is Molly my 3 year old golden retriever who was a gift from my dad. She is my second golden and I just love their personalities. Always happy and Molly is your typical Walmart greater. She loves everyone including all the animals we have on the farm. She especially loves the minis she can reach them much easier. Sammy the mini that she is comforting just came into CERA’s program. He is nothing but skin and bones and scared. Molly truly has an exceptional sense of knowing when one of the animals doesn’t feel good or sad. So she very gently introduces herself. This is her job and she is very good at it as you can see. Please follow Sammy’s progress on our Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance page. Sammy has a long ride of rehab to go and I will keep everyone informed.
Posted by Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance on Monday, August 6, 2018
Horse Whisperer of a Different Breed
“She was telling him, ‘It’s going to be OK, and you’re going to be OK. This lady over here is going to help you, so just be patient,’” Kindle said. “[She was] comforting him, and making sure he’s happy being here.”
Since sharing the video a week ago, Kindle’s Facebook post has gotten hundreds of thousands of views and shares.
“Molly truly has an exceptional sense of knowing when one of the animals doesn’t feel good or sad,” Kindle wrote on Facebook. “So she very gently introduces herself. This is her job and she is very good at it as you can see.”
Image by Darlene Kindle
Many of Sammie’s medical issues can’t be addressed until he gains weight. For now he is eating a healthy three meals a day, and going on short “power walks” with Kindle to build up the muscles in his hindquarters. Though there may be some difficult days to come, Sammie seems happy to have a friend to support him along the way.
Featured Image from video via Darlene Kindle
Upvote Downvote
Total votes: 5
Upvotes: 4
Upvotes percentage: 80.000000%
Downvotes: 1
Downvotes percentage: 20.000000%