Colin Butcher > Quotes

“There before me, in the living room, lay a vision of domestic bliss. Sarah was curled up on the sofa with Marian Keyes’s latest novel and a glass of wine and wrapped around her feet was a snoozing, snoring Molly. I couldn’t help but smile. Once upon a time, Sarah—an avowed cat-lover—could hardly bear to be within a yard of this hair-shedding, handbag-snuffling rescue mutt, but now here they were, snuggling like a pair of old friends.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“We learned an awful lot about cats’ day-to-day behavior, habits and movements and, critically, the circumstances that led them to migrate or go missing. Some cats, we noted, reacted adversely to a change within the household—the arrival of a new baby, perhaps, or even a room being redecorated—and others were driven from their usual territory by an aggressive cat encroaching on their home or garden.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“The air was heavy with hope and expectation and the three men watched on, agog, as my smart little spaniel stuck her snout deep into the jar, her tail wagging nineteen to the dozen.

Responding to my usual “Seek, seek” command, Molly raced into the long grass, springing high and squatting low as she traced the rise and fall of the riverside breeze. Then, suddenly, she homed in on the upended oak tree and—bang!—hit the deck immediately before giving me a textbook “down.” She locked her brown, unblinking eyes on mine, as if to say FOUND IT, EVERYONE!”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“The next household—a young father—was far more accommodating, thank goodness. He ushered the three of us through his back gate and five minutes later, appeared on the patio with his toddler, who was clad in an all-in-one playsuit.

“You don’t mind if we watch, do you?” he asked. “Ethan and I have had enough of Tom and Jerry for one morning. Molly the detective dog seems far more exciting.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“Right, first the bad news,” said Rob, when, as promised, he called me with an update. My shoulders sagged as I braced myself for yet more disappointment.

“Molly’s very, very demanding. She’s been badly deprived of love and affection. She suffers from terrible separation anxiety. She barks like crazy when she’s frustrated. She steals food from people’s plates and pinches treats from their pocket. And she’s one of the most willful, wayward and stubborn dogs I’ve ever met.”

“And the good news?” I replied despondently.

“I reckon we’ve found our dog, Colin.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“Molly’s ability to break down the barriers between cat and dog owners and to bring both “camps” together was quite remarkable. She could charm and disarm the most avowed felinophile—I think her friendly and placid manner helped in that respect—and the fact that she’d been trained to find their missing cats only added to her charisma.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“The “Bring Newton Home” social media accounts had evidently gone into meltdown when the news of his recover had filtered through—well-wishers from all around the world had posted photos of themselves jumping for joy and holding NEWTON IS HOME!!! posters—and it seemed the little dog had become something of a celebrity, both at home and abroad.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“I contemplated the task that lay ahead. It felt like I was in the middle of a Midsomer Murders case in many respects, since our village location was similarly quaint and rustic and teeming with a cast of colorful characters. The central theme of this particular episode was abundantly clear, and of course: where on earth is Simba? Had he wandered off and got lost? Was he trapped in an outbuilding? Had he been kidnapped by a local? Was he still alive, even? Fortunately, I had my problem-solving pooch waiting in the wings, who’d no doubt help me to get to the bottom of it.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“I gave my dog the signal to proceed. With Tim and I trailing behind her, an all-guns-blazing Molly charged across number 38’s lawn, her stride unbroken as she gobbled up some bacon rind that had been left for the birds. She sprang up to the decking, whirled around to face me, locked her eyes with mine, and—a slither of bacon rind drooping from her mouth—gave me the most emphatic “down” I’d ever seen.

“Oh my god, she’s doing that trembly thing again,” whispered Tim, his voice shaking. “Has she found her?”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“I thought you’d gone forever!” she squealed, flinging her arms around him and smothering him in kisses. “You’ll never know how much I missed you.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“Unsurprisingly, the atmosphere around the breakfast table that morning was fraught. A teary Lindsey was inconsolable—“How can I carry on without Simba?” she kept repeating—and both parents, sitting on either side of their daughter, tried their utmost to reassure her.”
― Colin Butcher, Molly the Pet Detective Dog: The true story of one amazing dog who reunites missing cats with their families

“Find a quite corner at some ungodly hour and write from your heart whilst the rest of the world is asleep”
― Colin Butcher