Murphy Love
 

     This is a story about learning to love again. We lost our beloved five-year-old Golden Retriever, Amber, when she died unexpectedly on April 1, 2001 from autoimmune disease. She was diagnosed with this progressive disease and within five days passed away at home in front of us. Amber came to us through an ad in the paper from a family who lived in apartment and could not give a one-year-old Golden Retriever the running room she needed. We brought her into our house and gave her the best home and love a dog could ever want. We are childless so she became our baby and we nurtured and loved her every day. The sudden shock of losing her at only five years old was almost too much to bear. She was the Queen of our home and we took her almost everywhere we went. I cried for days after she passed way and sought medical attention for my total despair.
     My husband went on the Internet and found the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida and thought it might help if we considered getting another dog. I told him I did not think I was ready for another dog only two short months after Amber left us. However, he gave me the application form and said try it and maybe it would help me resolve my sadness. Needless to say, I was amazed at the care the volunteers have in placing rescued dogs. When I received the first telephone call to discuss my application form, I knew this was someone who really cared about placement of a Golden. My second telephone call from the Rescue was to set up a home interview. I became nervous because I realized I might not be selected for an adoption. However, my fears where unfounded, as the nicest couple came to our home and visited with us and saw that we were a good match for a Golden. They had decided that Murphy, who had been at a Veterinarian’s Clinic for a few weeks, would be a good selection to have a “weekend” stay with us to see how we would bond. Memorial Day weekend was around the corner so we planned on our first weekend visitation.
     Our first impression of Murphy was that she was real dark in color and needed a bath. She didn’t have a collar so we immediately put a brand new collar on her. We brought her home and she was a bit sullen. We decided to take her for a walk and were happy to see she did not mind walking on a leash but only wanted to walk a few hundred feet before lying down. We thought it was weird because we know Golden’s love to be out and about. The next morning we gave her a bath and tried the walk again. She didn’t improve on that walk so we were a bit discouraged since we had other Golden Retrievers previously whom loved to be out with us. Murphy did not want to be outside nor did she want to play much. After two days, my husband asked me what I thought and I knew Murphy was not going to be a permanent member of the family. Our volunteer coordinator contacted us to ask us how things were going and I told him there was no bonding going on here and we would bring Murphy back to him on Monday.
     At the time, I did not realize that Murphy was sad also. Her owners left her at the Humane Society after keeping her for 7½ years. They decided they wanted to start traveling and didn’t need or want her. She was at the Humane Society for a while, then the Golden Retriever Rescue picked her up and then she was caged at a Veterinary Clinic for a few weeks. I imagine she was wondering where she was going to go next. On Monday, I decided to call the volunteer coordinator and told him that Murphy was no trouble and we would foster her until he could find another home for her. She was adjusting well at our home as we gave her lots of love and tried to show her that being outdoors was fun. We bought her a couple of squeaky toys and eventually she brought them to us to play. We walked her everyday and each day she would walk a little further and I saw her coming out of her shell. By mid-week, I started getting attached to her and she began to trust me and I realized I was beginning to love again. The kissing and licking started and my husband was starting to come around, too. She started to enjoy walking and even started jumping and carrying her leash. Murphy was growing on us.
     The reason I am writing this story is to remind prospective adoptive family members that most of these dogs are either neglected or traumatized by their previous owners who have given them up. I look back at Murphy now and realize I almost gave up the “perfect” dog. She is so well behaved, quiet, and a personality that wins everyone over. People who meet her cannot believe she was given away. The best part of the story is that Murphy has given me the opportunity to love again which I truly did not think possible. She is eight years old now and has the best years ahead of her because of the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida. A special thanks to Shelley and Joe Antonucci of Jacksonville for their forethought in selecting Murphy for us. This has been a wonderful experience and I recommend anyone who is thinking about owning a Golden to give the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida a chance to place a dog in his or her home.