Nine-Pound New York Dog Has Two Hundred-Pound Labradors Completely Terrified Of Her
When Ryan agreed to foster a New York stray puppy 18 years ago, she had no idea it was the beginning of a lifelong bond. Today, Molly is a senior dog with a big attitude and an incredible zest for life.
A Foster Fail For The Ages
Molly’s story began over 18 years ago when she was found wandering as a stray puppy.
She was only about six months old at the time, and microchips weren’t nearly as common as they are today.
With no idea where the little dog came from, Ryan stepped up to offer her a temporary home.
“I said I would foster her, and here she is, 18 years later,” Ryan shared.
The Mystery Mix
From the very beginning, Molly had a wonderfully unique appearance.
She sports incredibly long legs and a teeny tiny Chihuahua head.
Back when she was found, designer dog breeds were just starting to become popular.
Ryan’s veterinarian guessed that someone had tried to cross a Chihuahua with an Italian Greyhound to create her distinct look.
Embracing The Golden Years
Today, Molly is an astonishing 18 and a half years old.
Her incredible age has earned her some gentle teasing, with someone once jokingly describing her as “walking taxidermy.”
She is a little creaky now, dealing with arthritis and a back that is more curved than it used to be.
She has also developed cataracts in both eyes, leaving them cloudy and limiting her vision to shadows and movement.
Adventures In The Forest
Despite her age and physical limitations, Molly still loves to go on outdoor adventures.
When they go on hikes, Ryan carries the tiny dog in a special pack.
The gentle swinging motion and the fresh air often lull Molly right to sleep on the trail.
But Ryan always makes sure to let her down in the forest so she can walk around and explore the scents.
Fearless In The Water
When Molly is set down outside, she takes off with absolutely no fear in the world.
Ryan recently moved into a new house right by a lake, a decision heavily motivated by finding a safe place for Molly to swim.
The senior dog absolutely loves the water, which helps stretch out her long, arthritic legs.
She likes to swim out so far that Ryan often has to wade in and physically carry her back to shore.
A Nine-Pound Boss
Even when Ryan picks her up out of the water, Molly’s little legs just keep paddling in the air.
People are constantly amazed by her energy, often exclaiming that they can’t believe she is 18 years old.
But what she lacks in size, she more than makes up for in personality.
Molly is incredibly opinionated and has a massive attitude, something Ryan admits is entirely her fault for spoiling the dog her whole life.
Ruling The Roost
Molly’s larger-than-life personality is especially obvious when she is around other dogs.
Ryan’s brother has two Labrador Retrievers that weigh a hundred pounds each.
Despite weighing only nine pounds, Molly has both of the massive dogs completely terrified of her.
Whenever she shows up, everybody in the family knows that the tiny senior dog is in charge.
Ketchup Cake And The Final Chapter
To celebrate her incredible milestones, Ryan throws Molly a birthday party every single year.
She bakes a special cake topped with a frosting made of Greek yogurt mixed with ketchup—a combination humans find disgusting, but Molly absolutely devours.
Ryan is already looking forward to April, when they will celebrate Molly’s 19th birthday.
“We’re in the last chapter of her life and that’s difficult for me to reconcile, but we’re going to do everything we can to keep her here for as long as we can,” Ryan said.
