https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/27/australia/australia-peggy-and-molly-dog-bird-... A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
By Hilary Whiteman, CNN
5 minute read
Published 4:49 AM EDT, Wed March 27, 2024
In the four years since their unlikely bond was posted online, the odd couple has attracted almost two million followers on Instagram and Facebook.
But in an emotional video posted online Tuesday, Peggy’s owners, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, announced that the animals had been separated.
“It breaks our heart to make this announcement today,” said Wells. “We had to surrender Molly to the DES – Department of Science and Innovation – as we had a small group of people constantly complaining to them.”
Fans online were quick to demand justice.
“This is a classic example of bureaucracy over common sense and humanity,” one user wrote on Instagram. “Our tax-payer funded departments should be using their resources to help out the community and save mis-treated wildlife, not harm them!!” said the comment, which attracted more than 1,000 likes.
However, a spokesman for the Department of Science and Innovation (DESI) said in a statement the bird had been “illegally” taken from the wild and been kept with “no permit, licence or authority.”
“Animals in rehabilitation must not associate with domestic animals due to the potential for them to be subjected to stress and the risks of behavioural imprinting and transmission of diseases,” the statement added. “Animals from the wild, must stay wild.”