OCALA, Fla. — The dog whose name was given to the Marion County law that prohibits animal abusers from owning pets has been memorialized with a statue.
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“Molly” of Molly’s Law passed away earlier this year at 15 years of age. Her story of abuse at the hands of a previous owner inspired the law.
Passed in 2016 by the Marion County Board of Commissioners, Molly’s Law established a publicly accessible database of people identified as animal abusers.
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The Animal Abuser Registry is meant to help Marion County residents, pet sellers, and rescue organizations avoid placing animals with people who have been convicted of animal abuse crimes.
From the time she was rescued, Molly lived with Lilly Baron, who is now the President of Ocala’s SPCA.
Several local and state officials joined Baron Wednesday morning to unveil the statue commemorating her old friend.
Molly’s statue, which sits near Ocala City Hall, was created by Florida-based sculptor Nilda Comas.
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Marion County Animal Services also offers databases of known dangerous dogs in the area as well as lost and found pets.
For more information on Molly’s Law and other Marion County Animal Services databases, click here.
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