Murphy

Murphy was born June 16, 1994 at Birch Hill Brittanys.
Murphy came to live with us on September 11, 1994. As the story goes, we had agreed we wanted a dog, and so my parents and I only went to 'look' one day. Jonathan was working that day, and I had fallen for a puppy - hard to imagine. So to 'save' Jonathan a trip back to the breeder, we just brought Murphy home that day! Turns out, Jonathan had a hold on a puppy for my Birthday a few days later!
	As hard as it is to believe all these years later, Murphy almost didn't last with us. Two weeks into a puppy and I was at my wits end. He was granted a 'stay' at the last minute (quite literally) and we couldn't imagine our lives without him.

Murphy is happiest when he is with his family, and most preferably, when he is with his family while running in the woods. Honest to goodness you can see the smile on his face! Murphy is up for most any adventure, and he certainly has had his share! Come and take a look at some of our more memorable moments and why he holds such a dear place in our hearts!
it didn't take long before he just took over	to this day, he loves the laundry pile, preferably warm from the dryer	what is everyone looking at?	gimme that pom-pom!
me and my kids	don't all dogs sit in chairs?	I am a bird dog, afterall
snugglin' with Baby Mary (she is in his spot!)	mmm... nothing like a good stick to munch		if you're on the playground, then that's where I'll be, too

Someone really should have explained to him that Brittany's were meant to swim! (He literally climbed up me in these pictures!) He actually loves the water, but really prefers to have his paws touching the ground.


We took him hunting at Dad's club once; Dad wasn't sure he could trust Murphy's point, but my Boy was right on!

It may be a little known fact that Brittany's, as a breed, are very helpful, and will try to assist you with any of your tasks.	stripping wallpaper	painting	gardening

Murphy has never been known as one to miss out on a chance for any perceived lovin'	jumped up onto my lap	used to have this thing about piggy back rides	what is this new thing in my house?
in a box? OK	cuddlin' with my boys	pig-pile on Papa and Dee Dee	no privacy for Mom from anyone
	kisses!

Murphy on our various outdoor adventures:	winter camping	winter hiking	hiking even with a bandage on his paw from, surprise, a torn nail
they even made me carry my own pack!	it may not be the norm, but I'll give it a go	sleeping outside on a backpacking trip	more sleeping outside
Murphy loves the snow, and runs with his mouth open to scoop it up	Murphy can be very acrobatic in catching tossed snow or tennis balls	on the trail with his crew

At an amazing 13yo, Murphy is showing some of his age: little hard of hearing, sleeps a little more and a little deeper, and he's not quite as fast or agile as he once was. None of that stops him - just slows him a little. Only those you have known him a long time realize he's slowed - we still meet people out and about who can't believe he's 13yo because he can really act so much younger. Now, casual walks around the neighborhood are almost all he needs, compared to umpteen mile hikes of years past (not that I minded those hikes, it's just hard to squeeze enough of those in a busy week)! Murphy has truly led us on an emotional rollercoaster since November 2006! He went into acute renal failure, and by the grace of God and aggressive therapy we turned his situation around! As of the end of March, his lab values have totally stabilized, but he will forever be managing some chronic renal failure. Because that wasn't enough, on our trip to New Hampshire in February 2007 something happened to his eye. Upon evaluation, it turns out his lens subluxed and he had secondary glaucoma! After $60 eye drops, the pressures dropped and it also seems as if the lens went back into place to some degree. He also has retained at least some of his vision in that eye. Well, the rollercoaster ride hasn't ended. In May it was discovered he had cancer; not a typical one and quite fast growing. Where, you ask? On his butt, no less! Well, not ready to let go of my still active Buddy, he did have surgery to remove the mass in June and his kidneys came through it fine. Less than 2 months later is has returned. We are managing it now with oral Prednisone to help keep all the inflammation and accompanying irritation down. Dealing the best we can with some 'control' issues, and do hope that is not what ends it for him, of all things. Because of the 'control' issue, we tried putting him back in his outdoor kennel when we will be away for long hours. The very first day (August 31, 2007), I go to let him out of the kennel and he gave a little "yelp". I figured it was his arthritis from jumping down. I let him in the house and he's smearing blood all over the floor. Back outside to find the source. For a little history, Murphy has always had horribly long toe nails and has torn the top half off a good half dozen times. Well, sure enough, it was a nail. But, since he has an impressive medical history to live up to this past year, he didn't just rip it up, he tore the whole nail off his toe - intact!! I found the almost 1" long intact nail on the edge of the kennel! Couldn't believe we'd be going back to the Vet! Did avoid a visit and it seems to be healing up fine. He is keeping us busy with his issues, but we count everyday with him a blessing, and are sure to tell him and show him the same.