For Pet's Sake Column

A French bulldog named Murpheee has been on my mind. So has a Border collie named Tali. Both dogs were beloved members of their families. And both of them died recently.

Murpheee’s passing was expected. After all, he was 12 years old and had already survived several bouts with cancer when he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last month. His human companion, Karen Perkins, tended to her loyal friend’s declining health, blindness and incontinence with patience, compassion and love.

For the last eight years, Murpheee, a trained therapy dog, brightened the days of people suffering from cancer. It’s ironic, really—a cancer-surviving dog who helped ease the suffering of humans afflicted with the same devastating disease. But Murpheee’s caregiving duties didn’t end there. Over the years, he also helped Karen foster 16 dogs (many of them abused and abandoned) at their home in Santa Barbara. One such dog, Lillie, a cream-colored deaf French bulldog was abandoned while she was in labor, and underwent an emergency c-section to deliver her litter of puppies. Not only was the new mom in considerable discomfort after her surgery, but she was suffering from a painful ear infection, all while valiantly nursing her wee pups ‘round the clock. Murpheee often stepped in to lend a helping paw by cleaning and calming the newborns, so Lillie could stretch out for a much-needed nap.

Murpheee was an angel animal who touched many lives—both two- and four-legged. “The world will never be the same without him,” Karen professed to me the day after his death.

While everyone knew that Murpheee’s death was imminent, Tali’s came as a shock, especially to her guardian, John Grebenkemper. You might remember John and his Border collie from a column I wrote a few weeks ago about human remains detection dogs. I met the dynamic duo, members of the Institute for Canine Forensics in Woodside, California, when they were in town last month for a presentation at the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. It was obvious that Tali loved life and she and John shared an exceptionally close bond. Shortly after my column was published, I received this email from John: “Some sad new. Tali was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a highly malignant cancer in dogs, with no known cure. She was working a cemetery on Friday and doing just fine. On Monday, she collapsed after a short run. She is not expected to live for more than a month.”

Sadly, Tali only lived four more days. John said that Tali went on a training exercise for the last time the day before she passed away, where she was able to work for a few minutes at her favorite job of finding old bones, and to say goodbye to her doggie friends. The next day, John found Tali curled up under a bush in the backyard and he held her head while she lost consciousness and died. “Her passing was peaceful and probably about as good an outcome as could be expected,” John wrote. “She was a very special dog.”

By sharing Murpheee and Tali’s stories, I guess what I’m trying to say here is that life can be unpredictably short and you never know when you’ll be forced to say good-bye to a loved one, be it human or canine. Can I offer a suggestion? This month, as our nation observes National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, take a few minutes out of your busy day to give your pooch a hug (make it a big one), take him for an extra long walk (let him go at his own pace and sniff the “pee-mail” left by other dogs), or get his tail thumping by feeding him his favorite food (nothing says “I love you” like a home-cooked meal). Heck, even let your pup get on the sofa or sleep in your bed (I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t have to ask twice!). In other words, let your dog know that he (or she) rocks your world.

And while you’re sharing the love, may I also suggest you pull out your checkbook and send a donation (large or small, they’re all appreciated) to your favorite animal charity? Better yet, open your heart and home to an abandoned dog who is waiting patiently at an animal shelter for a new, forever family. Santa Barbara has dozens of deserving dogs for adoption; visit the ALL FOR ANIMALS Photo Gallery Pages to view their photos and profiles.

Michel de Montaigne, an influential French writer, once said, “The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them.” Murpheee and Tali certainly epitomized these wise words. Rest in peace, sweet angels.

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Have you loved and lost a cherished canine (or feline) companion? Let Karen know by sending an email message to her at karenleestevens@cox.net.