Molly the magpie and Peggy the Staffordshire bull terrier are an unlikely pair of friends who became social media stars: 

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• Rescue

  Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, a couple from Queensland, Australia, rescued Molly from a dog park in 2020 after she fell from a nest. 

• Bonding

  Molly and Peggy bonded and became inseparable, and their interactions went viral on Instagram and Facebook. The couple called their friendship a "real-life Winnie the Pooh and Piglet story". 

• Separation

  In March 2024, the couple was forced to surrender Molly to the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) after complaints. The DESI said that Molly was "illegally" taken from the wild and kept without the required permit. 

• Reunification

  After a public outcry, the couple was granted a special license to keep Molly and the pair were reunited. The couple will no longer be able to profit from Molly and must continue to work with authorities on her welfare.