“Ambassador Molly” makes a move
The marble statue of the beloved canine behind Molly’s Law is now on permanent display at the CF Appleton Museum of Art.
Jason Steuber, the director of the Appleton Museum of Art, Victoria Billig, the assistant director, Lilly Baron and David Reutter, the museum’s Registrar, left to right, look over the recently relocated statue of ÒAmbassador MollyÓ at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, March 23, 2026. The marble statue of the beloved canine behind MollyÕs Law by is now on permanent on display at the CF Appleton Museum of Art. Molly’s statue was sculpted by artist Nilda Maria Comas in 2023 and is Carrara marble on a granite base. The late Molly was the ambassador of MollyÕs Law, the Animal Abuser Registry. The ordinance is named for Molly, an American Boxer mix, who was brutally stabbed and beaten with a wooden bat by Steven Scott Fleming in 2014. Lilly Baron, the SPCA of Ocala Animal Rescue President adopted her. Nilda Comas created the marble statue from stone taken from the caves of Michelangelo in Italy. Molly passed away from cancer on Feb. 22, 2023 with her owner Lilly Baron by her side. The ÒAmbassador MollyÓ statue was dedicated and unveiled at its first location at the CitizensÕ Service Center in downtown Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Then Molly’s statue was vandalized and damaged. After it was damaged, and repaired by Comas, the City of Ocala erected a fence around the artwork. Baron said, ÒMy board members and I felt as though, when she was slightly damaged, and when we had to put the fence around her, that it took so much away. People couldnÕt hug her, couldnÕt get pictures with her. So, we thought it was a safe option for her to be at the Appleton and the SPCA of Ocala Animal Rescue donated her.” [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.
Three years after her demise, Marion County’s canine ambassador, Molly, is still making headlines, including a marble statue in her honor recently being moved to Ocala’s world-class CF Appleton Museum of Art.
The white mixed-breed dog survived life-threatening wounds in 2014 after being stabbed three times in the head and having her skull fractured with a baseball bat. Her accused attacker, Steven Scott Fleming, served time in state prison on three counts of felony cruelty to animals.
In 2017, Molly became the ambassador for Marion County’s animal abuse registry, known as Molly’s Law. Molly’s Law requires that any offender convicted of an animal abuse crime be placed on the county’s registry. The online database allows citizens, pet sellers and rescue organizations to verify they are not placing an animal with an animal abuser. A handful of other counties in Florida adopted similar legislation.
Molly died of cancer at her forever home, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Ocala, on Feb. 22, 2023, with her longtime human companion Lilly Baron at her side.
On June 7, 2023, a beautiful white statue of Molly, crafted by award-winning sculptor Nilda Comas, was dedicated in downtown Ocala. Comas has a studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, where she can look out over the Apuan Alps mountain range that extends between the Garfagnana, Versilia and Massa Carrara areas. The mountains are the home of Carrara marble, which has been transformed into art masterpieces by sculptors including Renaissance artist Michelangelo and Comas. She also has a studio in Florida and is a frequent visitor to Ocala, where she has family.
“Ambassador Molly” first sat upon a granite base designed by Alberto Comas, the artist’s brother, in front of the city of Ocala’s Citizen Service Center at 201 SE 3rd St., near the Downtown Market. Over time, a plaque was added to the sculpture. After it was damaged, and repaired by Comas, the city of Ocala erected a fence around the artwork.
As for the move of the Molly sculpture to the Appleton, Baron said, “My board members and I felt as though, when she was slightly damaged, and when we had to put the fence around her, that it took so much away. People couldn’t hug her, couldn’t get pictures with her. So, we thought it was a safe option for her to be at the Appleton and the SPCA of Ocala Animal Rescue donated her.
“She’s there forever. She is a permanent fixture at the Appleton. She’s our hometown hero.”
To learn more about the move, the “Gazette” did a Q&A with Museum Director Jason Steuber.
How did Molly come to the Appleton?
The CF Appleton Museum of Art was approached by the donor, Lilly Baron, in 2025, with the offer to add the “Ambassador Molly” sculpture to the museum’s permanent collection.
“Ambassador Molly,” created by internationally recognized artist Nilda Maria Comas (American, b. 1953), has become an emblematic figure both locally and statewide. As such, the Appleton was pleased to accept responsibility for the marble sculpture’s long-term care and storage. “Ambassador Molly” will now welcome our 70,000 annual visitors to her forever home.
Why did CF/the museum feel it important to have this artwork on display?
The Appleton has an important collection of art by Florida artists, dating from the 19th century to today. Over the years, Comas has split her time between her studios in Fort Lauderdale and Pietrasanta, Italy, while maintaining close ties with the Ocala area, so her work is a natural fit for an area of the collection that we are continuing to build.
The museum also has had a longstanding commitment to providing space for nonprofit animal shelters to bring pets looking for forever homes, usually as pop-up adoption events on Free First Saturdays. With these two traditions in mind, it was important to unveil “Ambassador Molly” in the exhibition “My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design.”
This special patriotic show celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The curated selections explore the pivotal role Florida, and its spectacular natural wonders, including those of Marion County, has played as a source of inspiration for artists.
Interwoven throughout the galleries are iconic historical artifacts from north-central Florida that remind us of our region’s shared heritage and its place within the broader American story. “Ambassador Molly” embodies all these thematic goals and inspirational ideals.
Will the statue remain on permanent display?
“Ambassador Molly” will remain on display in the Edith-Marie Gallery through mid-September and then will be relocated and displayed in another gallery in the museum.
Will there be any related programming?
We do hope to host programming with Comas sometime in April, so please check our website calendar at appletonmuseum.org for details once they’ve been finalized.
Online database update
Marion County’s animal abuser registry, which shows names, address, conviction dates and more, has long been accessible at marioncountyfl.org/aar
On Jan. 1, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched its Aggravated Animal Cruelty database at web.fdle.state.fl.us/dexter/about.jsf, which was required by the 2025 Dexter’s Law, and which lists the names of anyone who has been convicted of or has entered a plea of guilty or no contest to cruelty to animal offenses. The state listings show only the names of individuals, but no information about offenses or location.
On Feb. 20, people who abuse animals would be put on a public registry under a bill passed unanimously by the Florida Senate. The bill (SB 1004) will require FDLE to now include information such as aliases, date of birth, race, counties of conviction, charges, case numbers, dispositions, descriptions of any identifying marks and tattoos and a photograph. The list will not only include people who have been found guilty of animal abuse, but also anyone who has pleaded guilty or no contest to the charge.
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