- Bizarre Instagram post sparked fear
- Users were worried Molly had died
- READ MORE: Molly returns home
Fans of Molly the magpie have raised their concerns for the bird’s health following an ominous social media post from the animal’s owners.
Molly the magpie’s owners posted a Photoshopped picture showing the bird and its canine friend looking into each other’s eyes on the Peggy and Molly Instagram account on Sunday.
‘You will always have a special place in my heart,’ the caption read.
The post was flooded with thousands of comments begging for answers from account owners Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen.
‘This is really ominous. Has someone passed away,’ one fan asked.
Another added: ‘It’s not fair to post something suggesting that one of them passed away, please be clear about it, it’s not fair to make us feel sorry and sad.’
Others wanted to know what purpose the peculiar edit added.
Molly’s owners elaborated on the post in the caption of another uploaded on Tuesday, which showed Molly singing next to Peggy and their other dog Ruby.
Fans of Molly the magpie were alarmed when a photo was uploaded to Instagram on Sunday with the eerie caption ‘you have a special place in my heart’
In a follow-up post two days later Molly’s owners, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen assured relieved fans that Molly was alive and well
‘These unlikely friends love barking, playing and resting together,’ the post read.
‘Many have been asking how Peggy, Molly and Ruby are?
‘They are doing well and have settled back into their everyday adventures while still enjoying their own time away from each other.’
Molly was returned to the couple in April after being surrendered to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI).
The bird was separated from his family for 45 days after being confiscated by officers, who claimed the couple were not permitted to keep a wild bird.
Molly returned home after Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen agreed to a number of conditions including ‘no ongoing commercial gain from the bird or its image’.
Despite Tuesday’s update, many commenters returned to Sunday’s post to question it further.
‘Why make it sound like one of them has died and why photoshop a picture of them together when there are plenty of real pictures,’ one man wrote.
Another wrote: ‘Hope this wasn’t a post to try and drive your engagement.’
In the subsequent upload Molly can be seen singing next to the family’s two staffy dogs, Peggy and Ruby