Molly : the true story of the amazing dog who rescues cats /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Molly : The True Story of the Amazing Dog Who Rescues Cats tells the heartwarming story of the man-and-dog team behind the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency--how Colin, in need of a new lease on life, rescues Molly the dog, and how Molly in turn rescues many more beloved lost pets.

As a veteran of the Royal Navy and longtime police officer, Colin Butcher was no stranger to dangerous situations. But a career in uniform can wear anyone down, so, in 2003, Colin left the force to start his own private detective agency, specializing in helping reunite people with their missing pets. And yet, despite his hundreds of successes, there were still heartbreaking cases where Colin couldn't find the missing on his own. He knew he needed a partner.

When Colin first met Molly, his friends doubted that she would be up for the job. Where Colin was battle-tested, Molly was young and inexperienced. She was willful, wayward, and stubborn. But Colin could tell that Molly was unusually charismatic and intelligent. He decided to take a risk and bring on Molly for training.

Yes, Molly is no ordinary deputy, but a black Cocker Spaniel, and this is no ordinary detective agency. Trained by the top canine behavioral experts at Medical Detection Dogs, Molly can find missing cats--who are uniquely skilled at eluding humans--by detecting a unique scent signature, and she has been wildly successful.

The work is not always easy. Molly has faced hardships ranging from a near-fatal snakebite to the challenge of winning over Colin's girlfriend, Sarah. But through it all, Colin and Molly share an enduring love and affection. More than a working relationship, Molly is part of the family. Together, they are the Sherlock and Watson of missing pets.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

It's every pet owner's worst nightmare: Fluffy has disappeared and the posters and calls to local rescues have not resulted in recovery. What's the next step? Those in the UK have a wonderful option: the Pet Detection Agency! Butcher, a veteran of the Royal Navy and former police officer, is a dedicated animal lover. Here, he describes searching for the perfect dog to help him reunite missing pets with their owners. While he had some experience with large police dogs (German shepherds or Belgian Malinois), he felt a smaller dog with a "good nose" would be less threatening to other animals, especially cats, which are frequently terrified by larger dogs. Molly, a rescued black cocker spaniel, although young, inexperienced, and willful, proves to be a great fit after her extensive training; the many stories of her successes attest to the excellent teamwork that the duo provide to panicked pet owners. Molly demonstrates a unique talent for locating lost cats, leading to many joyful reunions in this heartwarming, straightforward memoir, and her success-to-failure ratio is exceptional. VERDICT Animal lovers will devour this British-toned, feel-good book, and might even develop some strategies in case their furry friends go missing.--Susan Riley, Mamaroneck P. L., NY

Booklist Review

Former Royal Navy veteran and detective inspector of the police in Surrey, England, Butcher now runs the United Kingdom Pet Detectives (UKPD), recovering missing pets for their understandably concerned owners. It makes sense that a man used to being part of a team and working with animals would choose the perfect canine to be his deputy. Readers follow Butcher and cocker spaniel Molly through their initial meeting, their training together, and their work and home lives, getting a real feel for what goes into training a dog for such specific work, and the relationship between dog and human that develops. Besides the normal day-to-day work of the dog and human pet-detective team, Molly's story features a dangerously close call, a treasure-hunt adventure, and many hilarious exploits. A unique text that reads as part biography, part animal literature, and part detective narrative, Butcher's tale of life and work with Molly will delight readers.--Erin Renee Wahl Copyright 2019 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Colin Butcher is the Company Director and Chief Investigator of the UKPD. Previously a Detective Inspector in Surrey Police, and a veteran of the Royal Navy, Colin was awarded a prestigious Chief Constables Commendation for his contributions to the advancement of the Criminal Investigation Department. He has been recovering stolen and missing pets for over twenty years and has a wealth of experience in the investigation of pet crime. His first successful assignment was back in 1994 when, serving as a Detective Sergeant with Surrey Police, he recovered two German Shepherd puppies stolen from a breeder's kennels. Molly: The True Story of the Amazing Dog Who Rescues Cats is his first book.