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 again from his Staffordshire terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby.

Juliette Wells and her partner Reece Mortensen could have had Molly removed from their Gold Coast home after a wildlife carer license granted to the couple was quashed by the court.

Daily Mail Australia announced on Tuesday that law firm XD Law & Advocacy filed High Court proceedings against the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) in September over the granting of the permit.

The couple released an emotional statement on Tuesday evening to thank Aussies for their continued support.

“Thank you so much for the outpouring of support and love as we hit another bump in the road,” read a post on Peggy and Molly’s Instagram page.

‘Some anonymous people have challenged DESI’s decision to grant us a specialist permit so that Molly could return to a family who loves him in the High Court.’

The couple added that the ruling means the license has become ineffective.

“This also means that your application for a specialized permit, made on April 11, 2024, remains undecided,” the statement continued.

They eagerly await the next action, which is still up in the air.

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

The post was accompanied by a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly playing together.

Molly was seen nibbling on Peggy’s ear 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 in their home and with her best friends.

“Sending lots of love to you all. You’re doing a great job and Molly is clearly living his best life,” one person said.

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

A third wrote: ‘Surely Molly is free to come and go as he pleases? He chose you, dear people.’

Others branded the move ‘outrageous’ and expressed disbelief that the controversial ruling had been made.

‘I can’t believe this… this bird chooses to be with you. Stay strong and fight. Nothing should break this bond, it’s healthy,” another follower emphasized.

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 zookeepers, many of whom were targeted by online trolls in the queue.

The post, which was accompanied by a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly (pictured) playfully interacting, explained that the specialized license has become ineffective

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

The law firm’s Jack Vaughan told Daily Mail Australia the High Court on Monday quashed the award of the specialist license to Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen.

Molly had already been removed from the couple in March when authorities learned they were not licensed to care for native wildlife.

The bird was returned six weeks later after public outcry.

Mr Vaughan said the court order had been made with the consent of DESI, who would now determine what would happen to Molly after she admitted she had made a mistake.

“In protecting the bird’s welfare – which has always been our top priority – we made a mistake and we are currently considering next steps,” a department spokesperson said.

In a later statement, the spokesperson added: “The department is currently reviewing the court decision.”

The wildlife volunteer who took legal action previously told Daily Mail Australia that magpies were not suitable pets and that they suffered if kept in domestic captivity, and that Molly – a male – was unlikely to survive.

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

“It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and unlawfully kept without a permit or authorization issued by DESI,” a department spokesperson said at the time.

DESI had independent veterinary advice. Molly could never be returned to the wild because he wouldn’t be able to care for himself, so he would have to be sent to a shelter or euthanized.

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

The resulting public backlash led to an extraordinary intervention from the then Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles.

Mr Miles rejected criticism that he had bowed to social media pressure by allowing Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen to keep Molly, saying granting a license was the “common sense” approach.

“I’m no bird expert, but I think he looks very good and healthy,” Mr. Miles said as he visited Molly at 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 license to keep Molly after agreeing to conditions including not profiting from the magpie or its image, undertaking appropriate training and advocating for wildlife.

XD Law & Advocacy argued that the 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 workers being pilloried and abused for standing up for Queensland laws that prevented wild animals from being turned into pets,” says lawyer Jack Vaughan.

‘These are the people who arrive in the middle of the night when you find an injured animal on the side of the road. They do it for nothing. They often also pay for the medicines and food needed.

“They represent the best of Australia, and yet some of them received death threats for suggesting the department’s actions were illegal. We agreed with them and it appears the court does too.”

Mr Vaughan said DESI had been “given the opportunity to demonstrate that it followed the correct processes and standards in licensing the healthcare provider”.

“To show that it wasn’t just an accommodating nod to a prime minister who wanted pictures of himself with a magpie on his head and a few social media influencers,” he added.

“They failed to demonstrate proper reasoning for the permit under their applicable laws.”

The volunteer who took action said she was grateful to the Supreme Court and “proud of all the conservationists who stood up for the law when the department and the former prime minister failed to do so.”

The magpie was seized in March after authorities learned Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen were not licensed to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later following public outcry.

“We’re the ones dealing with the mess of the social media craze of catching baby magpies and training them to do cute tricks,” she said.

‘There’s nothing cute about wings and legs being bitten off by pets. There is nothing cute about seeing a domesticated magpie being ferociously attacked by a wild flock when they first come into contact with each other.

“It was pathetic to see the former Prime Minister encouraging this idiocy in a desperate bid to gain votes and followers on social media.

‘It was a step too far to see the Ministry of the Environment joining the circus and issuing permits.’

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

“This action wasn’t about one magpie – it was about strengthening Queensland’s conservation laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system,” she said.

Mrs Wells and Mr Mortenson were distraught over the legal challenge of removing Molly from their home again.

“Molly is 100 percent our focus, and always has been. We just want to move on and just get on with it,” Mortensen told A Current Affair in September.

“Yesterday, four years ago, when we came across a little magpie, who would have thought we would be standing here in Brisbane in the High Court,” Ms Wells said.

‘Molly is happy, healthy and alive. Bossy, barking and Molly.’

Mr Mortensen added: ‘Every time we are in the public eye it raises people’s awareness to get out and do something to help wildlife and get involved.

‘We want to try to get as many people involved as possible in helping wildlife because there aren’t many wildlife carers out there.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the couple for comment.