On Dead Dog Beach, an infamous Puerto Rican beach where people dump unwanted pets, rescuers in 2013 discovered Murray and his three Weimaraner siblings. A horrible infection called distemper, which destroys a dog's neurological system, was already manifesting in Murray and his siblings when they were just a few weeks old and spared.
The Dodo quoted Christina Beckles, the founder and president of the Puerto Rican nonprofit The Sato Project, as saying, "I was holding him on the exam table and cuddling him, and I felt a click in his jaw - that's one of the symptoms of distemper." There is no therapy available at that time. The dog can subsequently begin to experience seizures and suffer from brain damage.
Beckles and the veterinarian determined that euthanizing Murray was the most compassionate course of action. When the moment came, though, the vet had a change of heart.
He wagged his tail as she brought him to the table, but Beckles claimed she was unable to stop him.
The fact that one of Murray's sisters had already perished from the sickness, however, gave him an extremely small chance of surviving.
Cathy Meeks, a board-certified veterinarian at BluePearl Veterinary Hospital in Tampa, Florida, claims that distemper kills 80 percent of puppies that get it. Vaccination is the best technique of preventing disease. But, because they had been stray, Murray and his siblings had not gotten any vaccines.
Murray is still dealing with some health difficulties, such as small seizures, but he has improved thanks to treatment. The illness caused him to grow a head with an unusual form.
According to Murray's adoptive mother, Mackenzie Gallant, his face used to be highly symmetrical but is now "kind of twisted." His head now has a pretty flat skull.
Murray's tongue protruded from his mouth after the majority of his teeth had to be extracted due to gum disease and dental decay.
For Gallant and her family, which also included her mother Kristina, father Dennis, brothers Wesley and Eli, two rescue dogs named Pili and Fox, and their cat named Daphne, none of this mattered. They placed Murray into foster care in November 2013, and just before Christmas the following year, he was formally adopted.
Gallant declared, "He's my favorite canine. I adore the guy. He spends every night in my room.
Gallant moved back home in 2016 to start college, but she continues to speak with Murray whenever she can. "It was difficult leaving all of my animals, but Murray is special," Gallant remarked.
Gallant and Murray continue to share a bedroom, and they frequently Skype.
When I'm at school, he still visits my room, and he still has a pillow and a blanket, Gallant said. He also understands the concepts. Murray will hurry up to my room once you let him know it's time for bed.
When she is at home, Gallant tries to spend as much time as she can with Murray. She enjoys taking Fox, Murray, and Pili for long strolls.
He enjoyed hiking, Gallant continued. That is the most enjoyable time of the day for all three of our pets. "Would you like to go for a walk?" we inquire. Everyone then immediately begins to run. Murray will howl if one of my dogs starts to.
He is prospering, and he is simply pleased all the time, said Gallant. Both people and dogs are loved by him.
Even though Murray was saved four years ago, Beckles still has fond memories of him and is happy that he got the ideal home.
This dog, according to Beckles, "looks different from the others." He isn't, though, because he still enjoys going for walks and hikes. He is treated similarly to the other dogs.
The mother of Mackenzie, Kristina, and her family have always been nice, said Beckles. There is nothing better for him, in my opinion.