Molly's Legacy
 

   We Molly was officially KB’s Golden Molly CGC. She was also the product of a backyard breeder. Her story is to honor Molly and golden retrievers.
   My son was eight years old and wanted a dog. I wasn’t so sure. Yes, our family had had a dog when I was a teenager. It was a huge Saint Bernard named Neil. Neil lived outside, chained to a dog house. That’s how all dogs lived that I knew except for an occasional poodle. We played with Neil very seldom. Our family didn’t really know him. One day a friend of my father’s offered to buy Neil to live on his farm. Neil left; he was not missed. I did not know much about dogs; but we currently had several old Persian cats and a backyard bunny.
     I asked my vet about what would be a good breed to own; especially with neighborhood kids coming and going. He recommended either a lab or a golden. Was there a difference?  I didn’t know. I called someone I knew in New Mexico about his lab. He recommended a breeder. The breeder contacted me and had a “very nice” pup available soon. I don’t remember the price; but I know it was over $500. I gasped and said no. Why should a dog cost so much?
     I went to the newspaper instead. I read  “AKC Champion lines, Golden Retriever puppies $175”. So, our family made the drive to see the pups. There were eight puppies; now five weeks old. One was a chubby little girl that would not let go of Mom even when she tried to walk around. We liked her from the start and she went home with us. We named her Molly because she reminded us of a chubby gold haired lady we knew. Her AKC papers were happily filled out.
     Molly was a joy from the start. She quickly learned housebreaking and loved to cuddle with us all. She  became a huge part of our family and our life. She was at our feet constantly or sleeping on my son’s bed. At four months old I took Molly to be spayed. She was stumbling occasionally; which the vet also noted. Some tests were run for valley fever, her hips x-rayed, etc but everything was negative. It kept getting worse. She developed a strange gait with her head moving side to side to help her balance. If she put her paws up she fell over backwards. Our vet suggested that Molly see a neurologist.
     Molly was examined and tests were run to see if she had meningitis. She did not. The next suggestion was a MRI; a very thorough detailed x-ray that could reveal her problems. The MRI revealed a collection of spinal fluid in the area of her cerebellum. There were two possible causes; water on her brain or a degenerative condition in her brain. Another test was suggested to put a tap into her brain to check the pressure. If the pressure was high, a shunt could be inserted to drain the fluid and release the pressure in her brain. If the pressure was normal, it was a degenerative condition and nothing could be done. The pressure came back normal. Molly had a condition called Hereditary Cerebellar Cortical and Extrapyramidal Nuclear Abiotrophy. I was given articles to read. The condition had been reported in Golden Retrievers, but was more common in Kerry Blue Terriers. The article suggested “destroying” the litter.
     NOT Molly! We talked to the neurologist at length and he explained the course of her disorder. As the brain degenerated she would lose mobility. It could become very bad within months or Molly could go for years. I was assured she was in no pain. Molly went home with us; but we were devastated. We soon purchased another golden so that we would continue to have a golden retriever in our lives. I called the breeder to inform her of Molly’s problem. Since it was hereditary, all pups in her litter either had the disorder or were carriers of the gene. She could not have cared less; but abruptly stated she would contact the other puppy buyers. I doubt that happened. I never heard from her again.
     Molly taught me the lesson of poor breeding practices. I met more people with goldens and found a surprising number of abandoned, unloved, and unwanted dogs. Along with a group of these friends we founded Rescue a Golden of Arizona. I am so committed to rescue and the breed because of Molly. She taught me the essence of a Golden Retriever and unconditional love. Molly always had a smile and a wiggle for everyone she met. She had a wonderful way of melting everyone’s heart.
   Molly regularly visited the neurologist. She was studied and videotaped as her disorder progressed. But one day in May 2000, my son woke me very upset telling me that “something is wrong with Molly”. I found her on the floor next to my son’s bed having an extremely bad seizure. It lasted over 20 minutes with me there; but I have no idea how long it had gone on before my son awoke. When she recovered, she was disoriented and bumping into things due to a temporary blindness. She had another seizure 12 hours later. It was time to let her go. She was eight years old.
   Molly went one last time to see the neurologist and had to be carried. He videotaped her one last time for the short walk she could manage. A sheep skin mat was placed on the floor where Molly happily laid down. She was given a medication to calm her, then with my husband and I stroking her and telling Molly how much she was loved she was allowed to leave us.
   Molly was biopsied for study. Her brain was sent to a veterinary research facility for study. They had not been able to study the disorder in a Golden Retriever before; but the diagnosis of  her disorder was confirmed. The video tapes and reports would be used for teaching. Molly would go on.
   Molly was not a show champion; and a performance title was out of reach for her. When we took her CGC test and passed, I was sitting on the ground outside the ring hugging her and crying. I was so proud of her. Molly was the easiest dog to train; or rather she managed to train me. She was never able to run and play like other dogs; but she was a Golden Retriever in every definition of the breed. I lost part of my heart when I lost Molly; but hopefully the breed gained by her life.
   So, until we meet again at the bridge my sweet Molly . . . RUN LIKE THE WIND!!