THE SITUATION ROOM
Aired August 1, 2007 - 17:00 ET
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
BLITZER: There's a little white dog in Phoenix, Arizona, who's still alive because she was left behind. Molly often flew with her helicopter pilot owner. CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story of this "Moost Unusual" four-legged survivor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She may be called the flying dog.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready to go flying, Molly? Ready to go flying?
MOOS: But she tended to fly with her eyes closed.
CRAIG SMITH, DIED IN HELICOPTER CRASH: A lot of times she likes to lay in the backseat and sleep. That's pretty routine deal, but she occasionally sits up in my lap.
MOOS: Molly was not in her owner's lap when two news choppers collided while covering a car chase in Phoenix.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do have two helicopters down.
MOOS: Because the chopper left in a hurry to cover breaking news, Molly was left back at the hangar waiting for KNXV pilot Craig Smith to return.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Molly is here, we know that she is going to be taken care of. And we know of a good family friend who is going to be coming and picking her up very shortly here, but she'll be taken care of. So all the viewers at home can know that.
MOOS: And viewers cared. The west highland terrier had become a morning TV fixture aboard ABC 15's chopper. Molly's name is sprinkled throughout the station's "post your condolences" Web page. Alongside the names of the pilot and cameraman who died, comments like: "Please take care of Molly, too. I'm sure she knows something is not right."
She and pilot Craig Smith were described as inseparable.
SMITH: She's my companion and buddy.
MOOS: Craig used to call her his cantankerous westie.
VLADAE ROYTAPEL, DOG TRAINER: Molly was a little terrorist.
MOOS: That's Vladae, the Russian dog wizard, Craig hired him to train Molly. ROYTAPEL: You say Molly come. Come on baby. Molly comes.
MOOS: He got her used to being strapped in the chopper, suited up.
(on camera): She wore headphones?
ROYTAPEL: Yes, she did.
MOOS (voice-over): The Russian dog wizard told Craig to use a special treat when Molly flew.
ROYTAPEL: I offered to use American cheese or Polish or Russian kielbasa with garlic. He had it with him every time when he flew with her in helicopter.
MOOS: Vladae offered to adopt Molly, but Craig's wife says the terrier will be living with Craig's mom. ABC 15 once did a profile with Molly, imagining her doggie dreaming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The wind at her fur.
MOOS: Molly the flying dog is now grounded, moping around without Craig, but OK.
ROYTAPEL: Wonderful couple which we will never see in the sky anymore.
MOOS: Man's best copilot.
SMITH: We have a good time together, don't we, Moll? Yes.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And let's go to Lou in New York -- Lou.
DOBBS: Wolf, thank you very much.
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