Still Missing Molly

Dear Zak,

It finally rained today after more than six weeks of increasingly dry weather and temperatures hovering at 330C. It was not a lot of rain, 24mm to be exact, but very welcome and the grass will start growing again. There is supposed to be more around but this being and el Nino season unreliability and drought are the two most used words to describe the weather.

After tea we took a walk around the garden to see what needs doing. It’s been so dry that even the aloes have lost their vigour and have gone back to dry appearance – their leaves dull and curled. As we walked past the fish ponds I looked down at the graves; yours, Kharma’s, Roxy’s and Molly’s. So many stories.

Poor Molly, I let her down so badly and she was just starting to fit in too. One morning she jumped up on the bed and snuggled in behind me. Themba was instantly jealous and tried to muscle in on the affection.

Pretty Miss Molly

Now of course we have Greeta, the SPCA office dog who liked to greet everyone. She has fitted in really well but is quite a bit older than what we were led to believe and hasn’t ended up being the play companion for Themba that we’d hoped she would be be. We do have to be careful not to leave food close to the side of the counter though. She does have some big scars from the past – who knows what stories she could tell? She bears no grudges and is a pleasant soul.

Until next time,

Love you.

Molly

Two blondesRejoice (L) and Molly

Dear Zak,

I called in to the ZNSPCA office today to see Molly. She has just been spayed so we have to wait until Friday until we can pick her up. Yes, we are adopting another dog! Themba needs a playmate who can keep up with him now that Tia is getting on in years and Molly fits the bill at less than two years old.

Molly was found on the streets of Marondera, a small town about 80km to the east of here, just over a month ago. Marianne saw a post about how nobody had come forward to claim her and her future was not looking good so we decided to meet her. So last Wednesday we took along Themba and Tia to the ZNSPCA office on Enterprise road to see how they got along. They got on fine if one can call ignoring each other that. Molly (she didn’t have a name then) eventually came up to me for attention.

Today there was another guest – a puppy that had been confiscated off puppy vendors on the weekend. He was very sweet with a furiously wagging tail, desperate for attention and very grateful for the treats I’d brought Molly and some attention. Rejoice asked me what they should call him and I suggested Tuku after Oliver Mutukudzi, a famous local musician who died a few years back.

Love me please!

Poor little fellow, I hope someone offers him a home. Both he and Molly instinctively knew how to sit when being offered food. I tried Molly with the human version of a play-bow; patting the ground with both hands flat. She responded by tearing around the pen! I think she’ll fit right in.

I took Themba to work with me this afternoon. On the way back through ART Farm I let him out of the truck for a run. He’s not the runner you were my boy, loping along behind the truck in all the dust so I got him to jump back in after a short while which he did with indecent haste!

Themba’s “I am more of a poser than runner” pose

Like you, he’s a good-looking boy.

Miss you and love you as always.