Murphy 10-132

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Profile

Hello everyone!  My name is Murphy and I am a wonderful 11 year-old senior looking for a forever home to spend the rest of my golden years.  I arrived at my foster family's home a few days ago and things are going really well.  I have enjoyed spending time with my foster parents as well as my 3 foster brothers and sisters.  We have been pretty busy the first few days. 

My foster mom quickly learned that I like to eat things like napkins and tissues.  She was wiping some gook from my eyes with a tissue and then I decided to eat it when she was finished.  Hmmm.  So, they think it best to keep trash cans hidden or out of my reach.  I am gentle and friendly to everyone I have met.   My foster mom gave me a stuffed rabbit for a welcoming present and I decided that it was mine and nobody else's.  So, just to be safe, foster mom gives it to me at night for bedtime only. 

The second day we visited the vet and I was negative for Heart worm - yeah!  My eyes are irritated and the vet did a little screening test and saw that I had a scratched cornea, but it is healing.  She thinks it must be from scratching my eyes from any previous allergies.  My eyes are a bit irritated so I have some cream that my foster mom is applying a couple times a day in hopes that the redness and irritation go away.  Because I am a Golden, the arthritis seems to have kicked in. I still like to walk a good pace, but later realize I am quite tired.  The most difficult thing at my new home seems to be going up and down stairs.  The stairs do not have carpet on the them, so that gets tricky and I have gotten stuck a couple times, so I always have someone with me going up and down stairs.  When my foster family has to leave me at home alone, they just baby gate the stairs and that works just fine.  I can still have free roam. 

Yesterday, I went to Minnehaha Creek with my foster mom and the kids and I got to wade around in the water.  Foster mom wanted me to stay in shallow water with little current to make sure I didn't float down stream.  My foster sister threw the ball a few times, but then I just dropped it and it floated away.  Oh well, I know there are tons more tennis balls in the yard at home.  I just like to fetch them and drop them.  We also had a picnic and my little foster brother had a really yummy sandwich, so I decided to try a bite.  He didn't like that very much so he gave the rest to me.  Yum!!!  They are going to have to learn to keep their food high above my mouth.

I LOVE to get brushed and it sends me into a deep relaxation and when I get a belly rub with a brushing session, that is the best.  You can see how much I like it in the photo below. 

There will be more to come as I get to know my new foster family. 

        

At a Glance #10-132

Golden Retriever Born: April 2000
Male 85 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

Hello everyone!  My name is Murphy and I am a wonderful 11 year-old senior looking for a forever home to spend the rest of my golden years.  I arrived at my foster family's home a few days ago and things are going really well.  I have enjoyed spending time with my foster parents as well as my 3 foster brothers and sisters.  We have been pretty busy the first few days. 

My foster mom quickly learned that I like to eat things like napkins and tissues.  She was wiping some gook from my eyes with a tissue and then I decided to eat it when she was finished.  Hmmm.  So, they think it best to keep trash cans hidden or out of my reach.  I am gentle and friendly to everyone I have met.   My foster mom gave me a stuffed rabbit for a welcoming present and I decided that it was mine and nobody else's.  So, just to be safe, foster mom gives it to me at night for bedtime only. 

The second day we visited the vet and I was negative for Heart worm - yeah!  My eyes are irritated and the vet did a little screening test and saw that I had a scratched cornea, but it is healing.  She thinks it must be from scratching my eyes from any previous allergies.  My eyes are a bit irritated so I have some cream that my foster mom is applying a couple times a day in hopes that the redness and irritation go away.  Because I am a Golden, the arthritis seems to have kicked in. I still like to walk a good pace, but later realize I am quite tired.  The most difficult thing at my new home seems to be going up and down stairs.  The stairs do not have carpet on the them, so that gets tricky and I have gotten stuck a couple times, so I always have someone with me going up and down stairs.  When my foster family has to leave me at home alone, they just baby gate the stairs and that works just fine.  I can still have free roam. 

Yesterday, I went to Minnehaha Creek with my foster mom and the kids and I got to wade around in the water.  Foster mom wanted me to stay in shallow water with little current to make sure I didn't float down stream.  My foster sister threw the ball a few times, but then I just dropped it and it floated away.  Oh well, I know there are tons more tennis balls in the yard at home.  I just like to fetch them and drop them.  We also had a picnic and my little foster brother had a really yummy sandwich, so I decided to try a bite.  He didn't like that very much so he gave the rest to me.  Yum!!!  They are going to have to learn to keep their food high above my mouth.

I LOVE to get brushed and it sends me into a deep relaxation and when I get a belly rub with a brushing session, that is the best.  You can see how much I like it in the photo below. 

There will be more to come as I get to know my new foster family. 

        

Updates

Friday, June 17, 2011

 

It is with incredible sadness that I send this note to tell you about Murph.

We adopted Murphy at the end of October in 2010. We had him just a few short months, and then with the advice of a very loving and caring vet, she helped us help him over the bridge. We were heartbroken. Murph was 11 1/2 when we got him, and so we knew his days would be numbered, we were just hoping for a few more then 4 months. Murph was a wonderful addition to our family. He fit right in with no issues, well except for the fact that he liked to chase the cats. No big deal really, because they are pretty dog-savvy and much faster then he was! He loved to go on walks, and bring the newspaper in for us, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was the neighbor's paper.. so we would bring it back out when he wasn't looking.

His age was really showing over the cold days of the winter. He was getting slower, and more unsure of his footing. Then, very suddenly, he started limping on a Sunday, and by Monday morning was really struggling to get around. We would help him, but at 90 lbs it was hard on everyone. We made an appontment with the vet for early Tuesday morning, March 1st. By the time we got up in the am he couldn't walk or even stand. It was that fast. The vet was pretty sure it was a degenerative neruopothy (sp?), and that even with thousands of dollars of diagnostic work, there was no guarantee that he would ever walk again. We gave him our tear-drenched tissues, (his favorite snack, strange, I know) lots of hugs and kisses, and said good bye to him that morning.

Even though we only had him for 4 months, I would do it all over again in a heart beat.

What a joy he was, and he brought much joy to our home.

We miss him terribly, but he is pain-free now, and we have wonderful memories.

Thank you, RAGOM, for making this all possible.

The W Family

Friday, October 22, 2010

Happy Friday!

Just got back from a nice walk with FM.  One day after the next! Wowee! This weather could stay like this for a long time, but we all know what's coming.  Sorry about the blip in the last update.  I think my paw may have slid across the keyboard and erased something, but I forgot what I wrote anyway. 

We had a visitor here for the last ten days.  He is FM's parents' dog and they went on a trip so he came here.  We have hung out before and it is fine, but he is not my favorite dog.  He thinks he owns this place and makes me very uncomfortable.  He is a little guy, sort of like a Benji dog.  FM just knows he is a mutt but isn't very good with smaller breed names, only the bigger ones like me.  Anyway, Toby got in my way a lot and made me feel like I had to avoid him whenever he was near.  FM gave me extra kisses, treats and hugs when Toby was mean to me.  I was never aggressive, ever!  But he growled at me and barked at me and took my toys until FM put them away.  Most of the time it was fine, but to tell you the truth, I am glad he is gone. 

There is a new guy coming to hang out here tomorrow.  I hear he's a pretty good dog, another Golden like me, but a bit younger.  You'll have to wait and see.  I have a good feeling about this special guy. 

Here is a pic of me and my FM enjoying one of these beautiful fall days. She loves the white patches of fur on my chest and wanted you to get a good look at it. 

It would be a great time to join a forever home before the snow comes so we can hang out outside and enjoy the weather together. 

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Murphy

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Good afternoon everyone! Murphy here to check in.  Last Friday FM forgot her camera when we went around the lake.  It was beautiful!   I got to swim for a little bit with another couple of dogs.  They were better at retrieving the sticks, but I still liked to go after them.  Once again I proved I still had plenty of energy for a good long walk.  I wasn't so thrilled to come home and get a bath, but I know that's better for my skin and my allergies. 

Well, our weekend to Madison was great.  It was really hot there like it has been here and I prefer the cooler temperatures because I pant a lot when it is hot.  That being said, we still had a great weekend.  I rode in the car like a champ.  FM took out one of the seats so I had all of this room to stretch out.  When I was done being excited about my opportunity to travel I settled down and slept most of the way.  We got out to stretch our legs once each way and that felt nice.  My water dish was next to me the whole time so I barely had to move to slurp a drink when I was thirsty.  When we got to Madison, the resident dog where I was staying let me know pretty quickly it was her house, but that was fine with me.  We got along nicely after that.  They had a huge yard without a fence, so I was able to wander around and check out all of the smells of the neighboring dogs.  When FM called me to come back I always listened.  I am such a good boy.  One night so, y forever home as long as the other dog isn't overly dominant.  That makes me uncomfortable.  Check out the photo of me and the gang waiting for a treat.  We had all of the ages covered - young, middle and old (yeah - that's me), but I'm still a wonderful dog with so much to give my forever family.

I hope everyone continues to enjoy this beautiful warm fall. 
Yours truly,
Murphy

 

Friday, October 8, 2010

Wow - where did that week go????  This fantastic weather just keeps coming and there is nothing like a Golden - uh - a Senior Golden taking a walk among the changing leaves.  We do look pretty good out there don't we???
I am going on my first road trip with FM and Foster Sister to Madison.  We will be visiting friends who have a Goldendoodle and another friend with a Golden puppy will be there as well.  It should be interesting.  All I know is that I get to ride in the car for a long time!!! Now, whenever FM and I go someplace I hop up into the front seat.  FM is worried that I might jump out the window because I like to stick my head so far out, so she rolls it up a bit to keep me safe.  I think though that she said I should ride in the back seat with Foster Sis to keep her company just for this trip.  FM is going to take me on another super long walk around the lake before we go, so I will probably sleep most of the way there.  It should be a great day for some photos with me by the lake.  Golden leaves and Golden Retrievers make for a beautiful photo op.

I gotta tell you that a week makes a lot of difference in my life these days.  If I am in the mood, now I will even walk up the basement stairs without the booties!  And!  I go up and down the main set all by myself.  When I hear my food in the bowl each morning I can't get downstairs fast enough.  After I eat, I go get the paper for FD.  I forgot to tell you that is one of my special things I have to offer in my forever home.  Just think, it's going to be winter soon enough and what better way to have your paper delivered to you by yours truly!

I'll check in when we get back from our trip!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

What a beautiful week we have had.  My energy level seems to always be improving.  I am going up and down the main set of stairs without my booties, but I still want them on to come up from the basement because they are shorter stairs.  FM decided to take me around the whole lake this week!  She wasn't sure if I would get too tired to make it all the way. I never stop surprising her, I kept up a good pace the entire time and even took a couple of quick dips in the lake.  The total distance from door to door was about 3 miles.  FM was impressed and very happy for me.  I've still got it.

I hung around a few other dogs this week, neighbor dogs and my foster uncle dog.  They are all much younger than me, and have a crazy amount of energy, but I still enjoyed having them over romping in the yard with me. 

I was 'cat tested' today to see if I can go to a forever home with cats.  I passed with flying colors.  I gave the cat a sniff (who apparently is known as the mean cat) and then I just walked away.  No big deal.  FM is happy that she can now add - good with cats on my list of things in a forever home.   

The latest picture of me is with my friend Mr. Rabbit.  I like to carry him around and show him off when I get excited.  Have a wonderful weekend.  You know where to find me!!!!

 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I know it's raining a lot out there today, but today is a great day. I got to take the cone off and have my stitches removed from my eyelid! I almost feel a bit naked without the cone, but everyone in the house is excited that it is off. It was on for 10 days. Ugh. The vet said everything looks fine. While I was there my FM wanted to check out my gooey green eye - the one without the stitches, as well as some irritated patches of skin. So the vet recommended using the leftover antibiotic eye drops from my stitches as well as an oatmeal bath, essential fatty acid supplements and some benadryl to see if that improves things. FM doesn't think I am that bothered by this stuff, but it is big allergy season for us Goldens so she'd like to help keep it under control.

As you know going up the stairs without carpet can be difficult for me. My feet just slide out to the sides and I slip everywhere. FM noticed that going down the stairs is no problem, but she wants me to be able to go where I please so she started putting these booties on my feet when I want to go up stairs. The booties are usually used to keep our paws free from snow, ice and salt, but FM thought the extra traction on the bottom might help with the stairs. And you know what????? They work! I am not a big fan when she puts them on, but I am beginning to make the connection between booties and mobility and I get pretty excited when she shows them to me. I am also hopping up and down off the deck outside and not always using the stairs. I think maybe I am not really 11, maybe I am 8 or 9 cause that's how I am feeling these days. Hooray for me!

I am still wondering why no one contacted placement after Goldzilla. Clearly everyone remembered me as the Golden with the cone on his head! FM even put my name on my cone. She's crazy. She just wants to help me find my perfect forever home.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

I am back and recovering from my eye surgery that I had on Monday.  Everything went fine, but because of the stitches on my eyelid I need to wear the e-cone.  I do not like being a cone head.  I walk by people and they say, "Oh, the cone of shame..."  I bump into everything, it's hard to see, I can't wait until I don't have to wear it.  FM said she is looking into buying a soft cone that should be a bit more comfortable.  She wanted to check with the vet first.  I have to keep the cone on for 10-14 days.  Sigh.  At least when I am healed I won't be annoyed by the lump under my eyelid.

Before the surgery I went to Pet Smart in Burnsville to promote senior dogs!!  It was nice to meet other dogs and hang around  meeting new people.   It was a nice warm day and afterwards FM took me to the lake for a little swim.  It felt really good.  I fetched a few sticks, but as usual I didn't really feel like returning them to FM.  That was okay, there were plenty lying on the shore. 

If you didn't have a chance to come and meet me at Petsmart, I hope you will look for me at the Goldzilla Foster Showcase at 10AM.  I am crossing my paws that I get to meet my future forever family this weekend.  I'll be the one with the cone on my head - you can't miss me!!!!!

 

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hi Everyone!
I am continuing to settle in here at my foster family's home.  I am able to go up and down the stairs more easily now.  I like it though when there is someone with me in case I get stuck.  I prefer to sleep on the floor near a bed.  There is an orthopedic bed here for me, but I rarely take a snooze on it.  The last two nights I traded off between my foster brothers' room and my foster sister's room.  They were surprised (and happy) to see me when they woke up.  I think it helped them to know that I love them and thank them for giving me lots of love.  I am also showing more interest in the toys around the house.  I played tug-of-war with my rope toy the other day and  I grab the bone every once in a while and chew away on it.  I love my daily walks to school and I seem to have plenty of energy for the mile walk.  I walk so beautifully on the leash.  If anyone is getting in the car, I would prefer if they took me with them.  Yesterday we got to drive my foster sister to school and I rode along.  I stuck my head out the window to catch some good sniffs and fresh air.  FM thought that was funny because I had not done that before. 

I went back to the vet to have the eye mass looked at and also to get some blood work done so that I may be able to take Rimadyl for my arthritis pain.  As far as the eye mass, everyone agrees it needs to come off.  It bothers me and I rub my head all over the carpet because it feels like there is something in my eye - ALL the time.  How annoying.  It is also cause for concern  that I don't scratch my eyes anymore.  So, I will go see the vet on Monday for the surgery and they will remove it.  Wish me luck.  As far as my blood work, I passed with flying colors for an old guy like myself.  So we will most likely start the Rimadyl very soon. 

I get to go the the Burnsville Petsmart Senior Day on Sunday from 11-2 !  Hooray!  I am so excited for people to meet me and see what a gentleman I am and how sweet and cute I am!!!!  Keep in mind some things that may be good for me in my new forever home.

*Fenced yard would be nice, but not required
*Daily walks - about a mile
*Kids are good, older ones are better so they can understand that senior dogs just prefer a mellow life
*Carpeted stairs are best for me or a one level home
*Unsure about cats, but can look into that if necessary
*Prefer someone to be home with me most of the time to keep me active and give me love during the day

Come see me!  I promise you I won't let you down!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

I went to the vet one more time for a follow-up on my irritated eyes and they have improved greatly.  I also had my vaccinations and I did beautifully.   The only thing really giving me trouble is the arthritis, so we have started a special diet that should help the soreness and pain when I lie down or stand up.  I have plenty of spunk and energy in my walks, it's just hard to get up after a good long rest. 

I am such a super sweet smelling dog after my trip to the groomer yesterday.  Foster Mom had bathed me a few times, but I still was kinda smelly.  But now I smell great, look  beautiful and am such a happy guy. The groomer said I was a perfect gentleman.  I already knew that.  My foster mom especially likes the white patch of fur on my chest.

Last night my foster sister wanted to take me to the neighborhood party.  I was able to hang around another dog and I did great.  Everyone wanted to pet me, especially the kids.  I just stood and wagged my tail. Most mornings I get to walk my foster brother to school and I love that too.  When I don't walk him to school I get to go to the bus stop with my youngest brother and all the kids run up to me and say, "Murphy! Murphy!" Then they hug me and pet me.  It doesn't get much better than this.

If you are interested in meeting me I will be at Pet Smart in Burnsville on September 12th and also at Goldzilla at 10AM on September 18th.  I can't wait to find my new forever home.