Peggy and Molly’s owners break their silence after heartbreaking decision

The devastated owners of Molly the Magpie have broken their silence as they face the prospect of the bird being separated from his Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby once again. 

Juliette Wells and her partner Reece Mortensen could have Molly removed from their Gold Coast home after a wildlife carers’ licence that was granted to the couple was overturned in court. 

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that legal firm XD Law & Advocacy launched Supreme Court action in September against Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) for granting the permit. 

The couple issued an emotional statement on Tuesday night to thank Aussies for their continued support. 

‘A big thank you for the outpouring of support and love as we face yet another bump in the road,’ a post on the Peggy and Molly Instagram page read. 

‘Some anonymous people challenged DESI’s decision to grant us a specialised licence so Molly could come back to a family who love him in the Supreme Court.’

The couple added that the ruling means the license has been rendered ineffective. 

‘That also means that your application for a specialised licence made on 11 April 2024 remains undecided,’ the statement continued. 

They anxiously await for the next course of action, which remains up in the air. 

‘In the meantime, let’s live in the moment & enjoy the time we have together and let everything else go,’ the statement ended.

The post was accompanied with a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly playing together to the Louis Armstrong hit What A Wonderful World.

Molly was seen nibbling at Peggy’s ears and paw as the pair gazed adoringly into each other’s eyes several times during the clip.

Hundreds of followers rallied behind the couple as they fight to keep Molly and her best friends together. 

‘Sending much love to you all. You are doing such a wonderful job and Molly is clearly living his best life,’ one commented. 

Another added: ‘This breaks my heart. Sending love and all my positivity for a favourable outcome’. 

A third wrote: ‘Surely Molly is free to go wherever he chooses? He chose you lovely people.’

Others labelled the move ‘outrageous’ and expressed their disbelief the controversial ruling had been made. 

‘I cannot believe this … this bird chooses to be with you. Stay strong and fight. Nothing should break apart this bond, it’s wholesome,’ another follower urged. 

XD Law & Advocacy revealed on Tuesday that it was acting on behalf of an unnamed wildlife rescue volunteer, who had the support of dozens of other animal carers, many of whom had been targeted by online trolls over the row.

The post, which was accompanied by a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly (pictured) playfully together, explained the specialised license has been rendered ineffective

Molly the Magpie and her Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby could be separated once again after a court overturned a Gold Coast couple’s licence to keep the bird. Juliette Wells is pictured with Molly and Peggy

Jack Vaughan from the law firm told Daily Mail Australia that the Supreme Court overturned the granting of the specialised licence to Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen on Monday. 

Molly had previously been removed from the couple in March when authorities learned they had no permit to care for native wildlife.

The bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry. 

Mr Vaughan said the court’s order was made with the consent of DESI, which would now determine what happened to Molly after conceding it made a mistake.

‘In trying to protect the welfare of the bird – which has always been our highest priority – we made an error, and we are currently considering next steps,’ a departmental spokesman said.

In a later, further statement the spokesman added: ‘The department is currently reviewing the court decision.’ 

The wildlife volunteer who took court action previously told Daily Mail Australia that magpies were not suitable pets and suffered when kept in domestic captivity and that Molly – who is male – would likely not survive.

That was also DESI’s original position when it first removed Molly from Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen’s home. 

‘It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and kept unlawfully, with no permit, licence or authority being issued by DESI,’ a departmental spokesman said at the time. 

DESI had independent veterinary advice Molly could never be returned to the wild as he would be unable to fend for himself, so he would need to be sent to a sanctuary or euthanised. 

Molly and his canine companions have become social media stars. Molly and Peggy have amassed a massive 1.3 million followers on Facebook and almost 1 million more on Instagram.

The resultant public backlash led to an extraordinary intervention by Queensland’s then-premier, Steven Miles.

Mr Miles dismissed criticism he had caved in to social media pressure by allowing Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen to keep Molly, and said granting them a permit was the ‘common sense’ approach.

‘I’m not a bird expert but he looks really well and healthy to me,’ Mr Miles said when he visited Molly in the couple’s home.

Molly and his canine companions, Peggy and Ruby, live with Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen in their Gold Coast home and have become social media stars 

DESI granted Ms Wells a permit to keep Molly after they agreed to conditions including not profiting from the magpie or its image, undertaking the appropriate training and advocating for wildlife.

XD Law & Advocacy argued that decision was made on political grounds due to media pressure and set a precedent for anyone to keep a wild animal.

‘We became involved when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets,’ lawyer Jack Vaughan said. 

‘These are the people who arrive in the middle of the night when you find an injured animal by the road. They do it for nothing. More often than not they pay for the medicines and food needed as well. 

‘They represent the best of Australia and yet some of them were receiving death threats for suggesting that the department’s actions were illegal. We agreed with them and it seems the court does too.’

Mr Vaughan said DESI had been ‘given the opportunity to show it followed the proper processes and standards in granting the carer’s licence’.

‘To show that it was not just giving a compliant nod to a premier, who wanted photos of himself, with a magpie on his head and a couple of social media influencers,’ he added.

‘They failed to show proper reasoning for the licence according to their governing legislation.’

The volunteer, who took action, said she was grateful to the Supreme Court and ‘proud of all the wildlife carers who stood up for the law when the department and the former premier failed to do so’.

The magpie was seized in March after authorities learnt Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen had no permit to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry 

‘We are the ones who deal with the wreckage of the social media fad of capturing baby magpies and training them to do cute tricks,’ she said. 

‘There is nothing cute about wings and legs bitten off by family pets. There is nothing cute about seeing a domesticated magpie ferociously attacked by a wild flock when they first interact.

‘To see the former premier encouraging this idiocy in a desperate attempt to gain votes and a social media following was pathetic. 

‘To see the Department of Environment go along with the circus and start issuing licences was a step too far.’

The volunteer said she would not comment on what should happen to Molly.

‘This action was not about one Magpie – it was about reinforcing Queensland’s wildlife protection laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system,’ she said. 

Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson had been distraught over the legal challenge to take Molly from their home yet again.

‘Molly’s 100 per cent, and always has been, our focus. We just want to just move on and just get on with it,’ Mr Mortensen told A Current Affair in September.

‘Four years ago yesterday, when we came across a little magpie, who would have thought we’d be standing in front of the Supreme Court here in Brisbane,’ Ms Wells said.

‘Molly’s happy, healthy and alive. Bossy, barking and being Molly.’

Mr Mortensen added: ‘Every time we’re in the public sight, it raises awareness for people to get out there and do something to help wildlife and become involved.

‘We want to try and get as many people involved as we possibly can in helping wildlife, because there aren’t a great deal of wildlife carers out there.’

Daily Mail Australia has contact the couple for comment.