Murphy

There’s a rescue place near us called the Devoted Barn.  They take in all sorts of animals, including feral dogs and sometimes farm animals that have special needs.  Mason is one of those.  He’s a lamb who’s a tripawd!  Today I got to meet him 🙂  He’s still bottle feeding.  We sort of almost met him once before.  He had his surgery on April 16th out at Michigan State University – now, we were at MSU on April 16th for their Celebration of Life ceremony with Murphy.  During our tour of the facility, someone came around a corner just as we passed by and walked down the hall the way we had just come and they were carrying a little lamb!  I remember saying something to my husband when we heard him “baaa.”  Mason is the only lamb that has had his leg amputated at MSU.  He had a really bad infection in his elbow that they couldn’t get cleared up.  He had already had 2 surgeries before his amputation.  He’s a very busy little guy, so I had a hard time getting a good picture, but I borrowed a couple from their Facebook page.

Donna & Murphy

Murphy had such a busy April, so I haven’t updated in a little bit.  But really, there’s nothing to update!  He’s just busy living life 🙂   We went on vacation for a week, so my son stayed at the house with the crew.  It’s always hard to leave – I’m always afraid something will happen while we’re gone, but at the same time I can’t not plan any vacations, either.   Spring has finally come to Michigan – it really took it’s time this year!  Murphy loves to just lay outside on the deck and try to catch bees.  I keep trying to tell him that it’s not a smart idea, but he’s pretty stubborn.  Speaking of stubborn – Murphy has my husband completely wrapped around his little paw.  When it comes time to eat every evening, he gets a bowl of food & carries it out to the family room, then he has to call Cassie & Max out to join him.  Murphy won’t eat until they are there.  Then he growls at them.  Then my husband has to put the food on the floor, a little bit at a time, for him to eat.  Murphy even picks out the tiny pieces that he doesn’t like.  Talk about a spoiled dog!

Time for a belly rub!

Today we drove out to Michigan State University, but it wasn’t for medicine or a check up, it was for a Celebration of Life!  There was a lot of other dogs there, a couple of cats and even a pig!  One cat rode around on his mom’s shoulder the whole time he was there.  The pig walked around on a leash and let people pet him.  Each pet there had a miracle story.  Several had been in the ICU at MSU and many had not been expected to live.  The students and volunteers had a nice lunch for us and the director of the program gave a nice speech.  Each pet’s story was printed and posted on the walls along with their pictures.  They gave each pet a gift bag, made a foot print for them and took our picture.  We also got a tour of the new ICU and of the whole facilities.  It was really nice to be able to see all of the places Murphy had been while he was there.  And it was nice for my husband, since he’s never been out there with us.  How wonderful to see all of these miracle pets!

Today we went to the local Bark for Life walk.  We raised $90 for cancer research.  Since it was snowing again today, there were only a few dog families there, but they were able to move it inside.  Murphy won the costume contest (he had on his Tripawd bandana) and 1st place for the tricks contest!  He caught a treat, sat pretty and rolled over 🙂  He was exhausted when we left and snoozed in the car during the 10 minute drive home lol.

I was going to wait until tonight, and I’ll post pictures later, but I just couldn’t wait!  I’m in tears right now, even though I’ve known today was coming!  Murphy’s surgery was 3 years ago today!  I still can’t believe it.  This stubborn, feisty, sweet boy became a Tripawd 3 years ago today.

I’m not as good as Michelle, Karen, Renee, Sally or some of the others at putting things into words.  I tend to keep things short.  I’m really not a blogger!  It took me almost this whole time just to get started writing one.  That is a whole other subject!  lol

I’ve seen so many people come here and so many have left.  Each one has touched me.  I cry at each loss, whether I remember their story or not, because I know one day it will be mine, too.  I don’t know how we’ve gotten so lucky.  We didn’t do any special supplements, just grain-free food, but Murphy cheats!  He steals food from Cassie & Max’s bowl (we normally free-feed, so their bowl just always has food in it) and he knows he’s supposed to eat his own food, but he’s so funny about it, and sometimes I just feel like, so what?  He can eat anything he wants!

Next weekend Murphy & I are walking in a Bark for Life for the American Cancer Society.  We accidentally signed up for the walk about 6 months ago, thinking that the walk was then, but they changed the date.  I was so worried, because I thought, wow, 6 months?  ugh, that’s a long time away!  It’s hard to know if Murphy will be able to make it.  But here it is, and he’s just as great as ever!

The weekend after that is when we’re going out to MSU for their Celebration of Life ceremony.  I was able to get someone to work for me, so we’re able to go.  🙂  I love a chance to show off our Tripawd Warrior!

Thank you to every one of you for all of your support, cheers, tears, hugs that have helped along our journey so far!  The crew is getting home made venison burgers tonight!

Love you guys!

Donna

Here’s some pictures from tonight.  Murphy got a couple of home made venison hamburgers and ice cream with whipped cream on top   🙂