Molly is 'part of the family'
They weren't sure they were ready to adopt.
They weren't sure they were ready to adopt under these circumstances.
They adopted anyway.
"They" are Ruth and Andrew Kowalewsky.
They adopted Molly.
They adopted Molly just before she was to be put down, which is a kinder and gentler way of describing an end-of-life situation for an animal.
They weren't sure about Molly. But that was three years ago.
They are sure now.
Molly is a Jack Russell terrier-mix, maybe four years old.
No one wanted Molly because she was paralyzed in the back. That didn’t deter Ruth; and little by little, her husband came to understand.
Molly, as a result of an injury, basically just dragged her rear end along the floor or on the ground. But she always had that "friendly dog smile."
When Melanie Dotson at the Highland County Humane Society informed Ruth that no one was going to adopt Molly and that the dog had very little time left, Ruth intervened.
She took Molly home. She did some online research and found Eddie's Wheels, which sold her a dog harness on wheels. That allowed better movement for Molly.
Molly fell the other day and dislocated her hip. There was talk of putting Molly to sleep.
Ruth and Andy would have none of that.
Dr. Gary Junk came to Molly's rescue and fixed her right up.
According to Ruth, Molly is great with Ruth and Andy's grandchildren and gets along famously with their other dog and two cats.
"She's just a wonderful dog," Ruth said. "I saw her maybe four or five times at the shelter before we adopted her. My husband said he didn't want another dog, but now she's part of the family."
Ruth said that Molly was found by a Domino's pizza delivery driver on Josie Avenue in Hillsboro a few years back.
No one at the shelter knows whether Molly was struck by a vehicle or injured at birth. But what they do agree on is that she is a great companion for her new family.
If you're thinking about adding a pet to your family, contact Melanie Dotson or stop by the Highland County Humane Society on Route 124 east.
The personal rewards are worth it.
(Editor's note: Bob Hodson contributed to this story.)