The owners of Australia’s favourite animal duo have shared a heartbreaking update about their beloved dog Peggy, nine months after they won a legal saga to keep the Queensland Government from separating her and their magpie Molly.
The bird lives with Gold Coast couple Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, after they discovered the magpie on the ground at a local dog park four years ago.
Molly quickly became part of the family, making friends with their Staffordshire Terrier dogs Peggy and Ruby, in a move that quickly went viral on social media.
Now the couple have confirmed Peggy has been diagnosed with an ‘aggressive cancer,’ after they found a worrying area on her left side near her ribs.
In an online post to their followers, the couple said the cancer was only the size of a 10c coin, but it needed to be dealt with quickly.
Peggy had surgery on November 20 to remove the cancer.
‘Her surgery went beautifully, and the vets were able to remove all the cancer,’ the couple shared.
‘They told us she was the best patient – that’s because they got to experience a little Peggy magic. We’re so proud of our brave girl and endlessly grateful to our incredible vet team for taking such good care of her.’
The unlikely friends became famous after their antics were shared online
Peggy was a ‘little wobbly and very sleepy from the sedation’ but is on the road to recovery
Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen fought for Molly the magpie to stay with their family
They added: ‘She’s a little wobbly and very sleepy from the sedation, but she’s okay and that’s all that matters… after some adjustments in Peggy’s pain meds she’s slowly becoming her self again.’
The couple said the worrying ordeal ‘still doesn’t feel real’.
‘Peggy is the calm, nurturing soul in our little family, the girl who became famous without ever trying, simply by being herself,’ they added.
‘She’s the gentle heart who nurtured Molly like her own and is the best mum to Ruby, she opened her world and all of ours to the unlikely, magical friendship with a brave little magpie. She’s taught us so much about kindness, acceptance, patience, and unconditional love.’
Peggy remains at home and is said to be recovering ‘incredibly well’.
In February, the Queensland Government confirmed Molly could stay with its owners for good after a court action threatened to seize the bird.
Molly was removed from the home in March 2024 after authorities learned that the couple lacked a permit to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later following public outcry.
