Murphy is a large senior mixed breed dog who was rescued by LifeLine Animal Project in late 2020. He was found as a stray and was very shy when he was brought into the shelter. He had suffered an eye injury that likely impacts his vision and he had scars on his snout. He found comfort in the stuffed toys in his kennel. LifeLine volunteers worked with Murphy for months to coax him out of his kennel and get him comfortable being outdoors. Murphy tested positive for heartworms and was moved to a foster home so he could have the best shot at recovering from the grueling treatment.
In a loving foster home, Murphy began to thrive. He enjoyed the company of other animals in the home and became more comfortable around people. His adopter, Joy Johnston, watched a video of Murphy in his foster home that was posted during a live virtual adoption event hosted by LifeLine. Johnston applied to adopt Murphy and he arrived in his furever home in August 2021.
Since then, he continues to do well, enjoying the company of his kitty siblings. He has greatly expanded his stuffed toy collection and enjoys plenty of naps on the couch. Johnston was inspired by Murphy to write Slow Dog, her first children’s book. It celebrates moving at one’s own pace, one of the many lessons that senior pets can teach us.
Slow Dog was released in September 2022, and part of the proceeds will be donated to metro Atlanta animal rescue organizations.
