Murphy in the camper - 2003

On 6 October 2003, Maureen writes:

Murphy the Wonder Dog is now 14 years old. We have had him for approximately 840 days. This is about 800 days longer than we expected when we first met this nice rescue boy who appeared -- then -- to be a living wraith as a result of being tied out in the Canadian Arctic for a year. Plagued with hip dysplasia, a heart murmur and high blood pressure, this courageous dog nevertheless decided he was our dog forever and would hang around for a bit to keep us in line. Of course, we keep telling him he mustn't leave us alone. "What would we do without you?" we ask him daily.

Murphy - 2002

Angie & Murphy begging for their suppers - 2002

Although he's had five strokes this year and he's progressed to nearly total blindness, he's the happiest of old gentlemen -- loves going for a long walk, adores trips, devours his food with gusto, roots around in the toy boxes with delight and relaxes joyfully on his dog beds of which he now has access to eight. A friend has presented him with two duvets as well which he thinks are very cool . . . er . . . warm! He's got a sporty polar fleece coat now for nippy days and a cooling jacket for when the temperature hits 90. He has a new braided collar and a microchip and a zillion tags saying where he lives and how to get him back to us if he happens to roam.

Thanks to the strokes, his funny little tail now cants to the right and wags with all the grace of an intermittant windshield wiper and he's probably lost a little short-term memory. Training him to do new things is totally out of the question, for example. Clickers terrify him, causing the old fellow to run for cover. Treats are good but it appears he hasn't a clue why he's getting them.

Murphy - 2002

He still barks up a storm when the mail falls on his head, if someone is at the door or when the fridge is opened. The only way to stop his shouting is to tug his tail gently -- no idea why but doing so works better than two years of "no bark" training.

Murphy - 2002

Pascale Black with Murphy. She had stopped on her way from Toronto to Whitehorse and I had brought Murphy out to the aireport so she could see him. Probably six or seven months after we got him - November 2001

Being blind as a bat holds its challenges for him, and for us, too. Furniture cannot be shifted, for example. Some construction in the house this past week requiring that furniture be moved around resulted in a number of collisions. Not long ago, he got lost under the dining room table! We also have to be extremely careful he doesn't get out because he will simply walk in a straight line forever. Despite the hip issues, Murphy can move like lightning when inspired, say by a c*t, so these linear excursions can very quickly get him into big trouble.

Murphy - 2003

This past summer, Murphy spent seven weeks travelling through northern British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska and Alberta. He visited some Airedale friends along the way and even offered to spar with a young Airedale at one stop! At another home, he incorrectly concluded a Jack Russell was likely a c*t and ran its poor little legs off. He encountered some of the worst weather we have ever seen during a summer holiday and only balked at the blizzard that overtook us in the Rockies. "Go out?" he asked in disbelief, "in THAT?" shuddering visibly. Well, one does have to bear his history in mind . . . .

An unexpected snowstorm! Murphy is in purple; Angie in dayglo orange; husband Jim is the upright - October 2002

So Murphy is fine and, we hope, will continue to grace our lives, bringing us joy and making everyone laugh with his silly antics. If he's not hauling the Toy Poodle off for a walk because he has accidentally snatched up her leash, he's begging piteously for our breakfast toast or demanding a car ride. And he still gives the best NOSEPOKES ever . . . !!!

Pifflesqueak & Murphy take a snoozle - 2002