Molly was a mix of Australian Cattle Dog and Basset Hound, characterized by her short stature and the softest fur of any dog I had ever encountered. Although I cannot recall the circumstances that led to her joining our family, we cherished her deeply. She had a small wart beneath her left eye, which posed no health concerns. Molly exhibited a strong protective instinct, even over our backyard, which proved to be a significant drawback. On one occasion, our neighbor leaned over the back gate to inquire about something from my sister and me, but Molly reacted by jumping up and biting him on the face. Surprisingly, he did not hold a grudge and acknowledged that it was his own fault. Due to her aggressive nature towards outsiders, we kept Molly secured by the back door, knowing she would deter anyone attempting to climb over the fence. She appeared to respond to our conversations; I recall a day when she seemed upset with me for an unknown reason and completely ignored my presence. However, when I apologized, she wagged her tail and approached me. After we moved from my childhood home, Molly continued to live as an outdoor dog. One day, she ran away, leaving us disheartened, but the following day, the animal shelter contacted us to inform us that they had found her. We were overjoyed to have her back. Unfortunately, Molly was quite old when she passed away a few months later, and I still miss her dearly.