We lost Murphy, our ACD yesterday afternoon. The week is a blur. He only ate half of his dinner

[livetohike]

last Wednesday and then the heartbreak began concluding with liver biopsy results yesterday.

Murphy turned 12 years old on Feb. 10. He was loyal, protective, intelligent and energetic in everything he did. We have lots of good memories as he (and our Catahoula Leopard Cindy) went with us everywhere. He hiked, canoed, camped and traveled from California to Maine, to the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec and to southern Florida.

We have been in Pennsylvania for the past eight years and he loved living in the woods and protecting his turf from bears, deer, turkey and assorted wildlife. His favorite games were "bitey face" with Cindy in which he would provoke her to chase him, hide and seek with my husband and chasing Cindy as she played boomer ball.

The house seems empty now and we're heart broken, but we'll never forget him and all of the joy he brought into our lives.

Run free Murphy.

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[CurtEastPoint]

1. For you and Murphy

When I am gone release me and let me go.
I have too many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears.
Be thankful for our wonderful years.

I gave to you my love, you can only guess . . .
how much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have shown,
but now it's time I travelled on alone.

So grieve a while for me if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a time that we must part,
so bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me call, and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear.
All my love around you soft and clear.

And then when you must pass this way alone,
I'll greet you with a wag and say "Welcome Home!"

[cntrygrl]

3. CurtEastPoint, that's beautiful! Who authored it?

[CurtEastPoint]

4. It was given to me...

by a veterinarian upon the loss of one of my kitties years ago. I don't know the source but I keep it on hand. It's so schmaltzy but just what's needed upon losing an animal friend.

[livetohike]

7. Thank you. That's so beautiful. Just what I need to hear.

[cntrygrl]

2. I'm so sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace sweet Murphy!

[livetohike]

8. Thank you cntrygrl. I've had pets my whole life, but you're never

Ready to let go. 😥

[catbyte]

5. I'm so very sorry.

Hugs to you and your family.

[livetohike]

9. Thank you catbyte.

[fizzgig]

6. rest easy, sweet boy

it is so hard to say goodbye to our friends

[livetohike]

10. Thank you fizzgig. I'm numb from the shock of how quickly this

happened .

[shenmue]

11. Rest in peace. What a sweet baby.

{{{Hugs}}}

[livetohike]

15. Thank you shenmue. He really was sweet and sensitive.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I am so sorry for your loss.

The only thing harder than losing a family member is to have it happen so fast that you don't have time to process it. I guess that the only good part of that is to know that there was not a prolonged suffering involved. Not much consolation for those left behind, but it is all that I can give.

[livetohike]

16. Thank you Curmudgeoness. That's exactly what I've been telling myself and I

need to hear it over and over again until it sinks in .

[Phentex]

13. I'm sorry to hear this...

sounds like you all had wonderful times together. My heart goes out to you!

[livetohike]

17. Thanks Phentex. I'm trying hard to think about the wonderful 12 years we had instead of the

the last seven days. The first hike of the season will be hard, but I think Murphy will be there in spirit .

[magical thyme]

14. godspeed Murphy...

What a beautiful boy. Peace to all Murphy's friends and family.

[livetohike]

18. Thanks magical thyme. We haven't told a few people yet who loved Murphy as much as we did.

His "Uncle Bruce" in CA will be as sad as we are. All of us hiked hundreds of miles together when we lived out there .

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. What a handsome boy...

I'm so sorry for your loss. They leave such a deep crater behind. <3

[livetohike]

20. Thank you ScreamingMeemie. It's a bottomless crater.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. I'm very sorry for your loss. I also lost a dog to liver disease.

[livetohike]

23. Thank you sinkingfeeling. I'm sorry about the loss of your dog, too.

[QED]

22. I'm so sorry for your loss.

R.I.P. sweet boy.

[livetohike]

24. Thank you QED.