Murphy: My Pitador

by Leslie
(Lone Tree, CO)

Murphy was my amazing lab/pit bull mix. I rescued him at about 2 years old, and he lived to be a wise and gray-faced 15! I always say, he actually rescued me more than I rescued him.

He was the handsomest dog ever to be seen. He was quite stocky (that's his pit), but a bit long (lab). He was chocolate brown with a white blaze on his muscular chest. He had gold, soulful eyes and long, soft ears.

From the start, he was funny! He loved to run and chase, he took corners like a rabbit! I walked him every single day, unless it was pouring or snowing sideways. If this was the case, he would barely trot outside to to "do his business" as my sweet dad used to say.

He had many friends and playmates. Bailey, a sleek, gray weimaraner was his best friend. They wrestled and chased until exhaustion took over. Murphy used to straddle an arm chair to see out the front window. He was content to do this for hours, only pausing to snooze for a bit.

He fiercely protected our little house, jumping in great leaps at the door when the mailman came by or God forbid...someone he didn't know. He would look at me after as if to say...."See Mom, I'm here to watch over you."

I have so many happy "Murphy-dog stories." We truly loved each other so very much. When he died, I knew it was his time, but my soul and heart ached for him. I cried so hard, I kept wanting to smell him. In fact, I actually did sniff his blanket until there was no more Murphy smell.

My dad died later the same year Murphy did. My dad and Murphy were excellent buddies. I told my dad as he lay dying in hospice that Murph would be waiting for him. My dad smiled (he was in a morphine-induced, barely conscious state) at the thought.

It brings me great comfort to think they might be hanging in Heaven together. (I have read that Heaven has many pets! If this is so, I know Murphy is certainly there, hopefully wagging and happily walking with my dad.)

Good-bye, dear Murph. You are my forever-dog. Thank you for bringing 13 blessed and loving years.

Leslie (Murphy's mom)