Last October we were told that Murphy had cancer and we would lose him shortly. He defied the prognosis and until a few days ago was living a comfortable if somewhat difficult life, still enjoying his meals, walks and time with us. Yesterday afternoon it became obvious that it was time to set him free from the discomfort.
Murphy was with us for 11 years and couldn’t have been a more loving and affectionate companion. Our hearts are broken and we miss him terribly but know it was the right thing to do. Thank you to Dr. Joe at the Valley Veterinary Hospital for the kind care in helping Murphy make the peaceful transition. And thank you to the folks at Beagles of New England States (B.O.N.E.S.) (Bones) for rescuing him and bringing him into our lives.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Steve, my heart hurts for both you & Mary Beth at the loss of your very special Murphy. May you find peace in the knowledge that you both cared, loved & provided so much for him for these 11 years & knowing that he is now at peace.
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Thank you, Faith.
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Very sorry to read this Steve. My deepest condolences. It’s obvious he had a family that loves him very much.
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Thank you, Mark. He did and we received so much back from him. We are slowly thinking more of that and less of the loss.
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My heart breaks for you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Danny
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Thank you, Danny. I appreciate your kind words.
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Oh, Stephen. I am so sad for you and your family. Remember that Murphy was a very lucky dog to have a long life with a family who loved him. That is the best thing that can happen to any dog. My sympathy.
J. F. Riordan
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Thank you very much, J.F. We did our best to be sure he had a comfortable and happy life full of love and security.
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Very sorry for your loss. what a great dog!
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Thank you, Rob. Yes, he was a wonderful little guy.
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None of us wanted to read this Steve. Deeply sorry for you, Mary Beth and dear Murphy.
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I appreciate that, Andrew. Whenever I posted about him, folks here always made me feel that Murphy was special. It was difficult sharing the news.
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So sorry, Steve. There’s nothing like losing a dog, but of course nothing compares to having one either. Murphy certainly looks like he was a splendid, dear little fellow!
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You are absolutely correct, Jackson. We lost two beagles before adopting Murphy. After each loss we felt we couldn’t possibly repeat the experience but that special relationship one has with a dog overcame the pain and we did bring another into our lives. We miss them all. He was just as you describe him…splendid and dear. Thank you, Jackson.
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When I saw the words, I began crying. Just can not help myself. I am so very sorry that your dear sweet Murphy has gone to his final place to lay his head. My deepest sympathies to you and Mary Beth. I know that your hearts feel empty as well as your home.
Friday I went to an estate sale and I bought a beautiful and very life like figurine of a Beagle wearing a red collar. I thought of Murphy when I found it. I have collected dog and cat figurines for many years and at this sale, is the first time, that I found a Beagle.
You and Mary Beth are in my thoughts. I know that Murphy was in the best and most loving home possible. I hope that you can find comfort in having known his love. .
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And I am too, Yvonne. As I write my replies to each person here, my eyes begin to well up again and agian. It has been a difficult day. I missed Murphy last night in bed and when rising this morning. He was no longer sitting at my feet waiting for his scrambled eggs for breakfast. When I left the house early this morning he did not go in and howl at Mary Beth to keep him company in my absence. And when I came home I looked in the window where he would usually be waiting for me but was not there. After dinner there was no one to lick the plate. All these things that were routine and taken for granted are now dear memories that will never fade.
We have a few little beagle replicas that sit in various places around the house. Once when I was working in a home the customer and I struck up a conversation about our dogs. She had bassets but previously had a beagle. As we talked about Murphy she handed me one of those sand-cast figurines of a beagle that she wanted me to have. It sits on our TV and will remain always. It isn’t the most valuable trinket, but it has immeasurable value to us.
We do have comfort in his love, Yvonne. As we did with Cassie and Dixie too. All will remain deep within our hearts forever. Their ashes will always be with us and will join with ours when the time arrives.
Thank you, Yvonne.
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Knowing this would eventuate didn’t make your sad news any easier to read. I am so very sorry for your loss. It was clear, from your photos of Murphy and the look in his eyes, that love and devotion flowed both ways. We too lost a canine companion this week when we said goodbye to Hank, the last of our Anatolians. Jackson (above) pointed out that although losing a dog is surely difficult, having one is a very special privilege indeed. You can rest knowing that Murphy had a good life and that you and Mary Beth were just as important a part of his life as he was to yours. They give us much …. don’t they? D
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I am so sorry that you lost Hank too, David. Something in common that we both would rather not be sharing.
Yes, it did flow in both directions. He always wanted to be with us and followed us from room to room. When we left him in the house he would howl in protest and, we were told by understanding neighbors, quite often howled until we returned.
Murphy had an unpleasant few years to begin his life. We tried our best to be sure the rest made up for that. I think that in the end, as we talked soothingly and stroked his body, he felt our love as he breathed his last.
Yes, dogs do give us much…they give us their all. It is said that they are the only creatures who love someone else more than themselves and it is true.
Thank you, David.
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Steve: our hearts ache for you. Such a difficult time but such wonderful love you have shared.
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Thank you for those comforting words, Rod.
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I always enjoyed your Murphy posts. He clearly was as devoted to you and Mary Beth as the two of you were to him, and even though all of us knew this day was coming, that doesn’t make it any easier. It’s an amazing thing, how such relatively small creatures can leave such huge, gaping holes when they’re gone. I suppose part of it is that physical space and heart space are quite different things. Murph had a lot of heart, and I know he’ll always be in yours.
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Murphy did indeed have a lot of heart when it came to his people. His one shortcoming was his unwillingness to allow anyone else to enter the space surrounding him and us. In his mind he was defending us and his place in the pecking order as well. It is an amazingly large space emptied by his absence
I appreciate the interest that everyone here showed in Murphy and your words are very helpful, Linda. Thank you.
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Steve, so sorry about your loss of your good friend.
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Thank you, Jim.
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That’s brought a tear to my eye this morning. So sorry to hear your sad news.
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Thank you, Willo.
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Wishing you many happy memories.
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Thank you, Melanie. There are many and that is where our concentration is going now.
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I’m sorry for your loss, Steve.
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Thank you, Steve.
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This is such sad news, Steve and I’m so very sorry for your loss. I know that you and Mary Beth will be feeling very low right now and that there will be a big, gaping hole in your lives now that Murphy has gone. Please try to take comfort from the fact that he had an extraordinarily wonderful life living with you and that you gave him the bestest of homes that a dog could ever wish for. Treasure the happy memories xx
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We shall treasure them, Lottie. We smile as we walk through the house and see the various reminders of how he lived in the home with us. We are not hurrying to remove those reminders like his beds and bowls. In time but not yet. Thank you.
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I’m really sad for you, Steve. Thank you for sharing this moving post~ in doing so you have sent Murphy out to touch all of us.
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That is kind of you to say, Melissa. I did enjoy sharing him with all my friends here and elsewhere on the web. He was such a delightful companion.
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So sorry for the loss of your dear pet.
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Thank you.
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Very sorry for you and your family Steve.
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Thank you very much, Bernie.
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I know your sadness and grief very well and I’m so sorry to learn of your loss, but grateful that you had the compassionate veterinary resources to ease his passing. He will surely live on in you.
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I am sure many, if not all, of the folks posting here have probably shared our grief, Gary. But it is a sign of our love for our furry partners in life.
Yes, we appreciate our current veterinarian very much. He helped us cope with the initial news and was with us to the end. We value his service even more after a very bad experience of “bedside manner” from our previous vet. Dr. Joe is wonderful.
Thank you, Gary.
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I’m so sorry Steve. I can’t imagine it, but I know one day I’ll face this too with Diva Dog. I hope the sweet memories of Murphy bring your heart gladness.
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I hope that day for Diva Dog is quite far in the future, Deborah. We know going in that a sad day will come when we allow a dog or cat into our lives. But they bring us so much love it is hard to refuse. Thank you.
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Dear Steve, I’m sorry to read of your recent loss of a friend in the family. We too have recently lost our little friend Tucker, and apparently in the same week. He was also 11. It breaks our hearts yet we know we did the right thing. It will be a long time before we stop missing him so. ❤
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I agree…it takes quite a while to soften the pain. We still feel sadness as we do the little things that Murphy was part of. When I pour water I look to see if his bowl needs filling. When I make our breakfast I want to throw a few Cheerio rings on the floor for him. When I bring in a plate from the grill I want to let him lick the meat drippings. It’s all those little shared things that make a relationship. We know that one day we’ll be ready to share our lives with another pup, but we’re not ready yet. Thank you for your kind words, Lynda. I hope you become at peace with the loss as we are slowly doing as well.
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