Catching Murphy

Missing Collection

by Wilson Ring

For more than a year, over two brutal Northeast winters, the whole of Vermont was captivated by the hunt for a runaway golden retriever named Murphy. He was more than a missing dog—he was a target for capture, and journalistic obsession. This is that story.

Murphy’s disappearance would unite the dog’s increasingly anxious owners with an impassioned reporter—Wilson Ring, the state’s correspondent for the Associated Press—and an online community of animal lovers. As Murphy kept running, the quest to bring him home, safe and sound, seemed more and more impossible. The search itself takes on an aspect of devotion, as the searchers display genuine resilience and ingenuity—human qualities of an increasingly rare breed.

Wilson Ring’s Catching Murphy is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Animals, Mystery, Journalism, Dogs

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2018

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murphy the Dog made national headlines when he ran from the scene of a traffic accident in Vermont in 2014. It took two years to reunite Murphy with his owner and catching the lost dog brought an entire community together.

A writer for the Associated Press, Wilson Ring diligently put out food and traps to catch the golden retriever and enlisted the help of many for two years. The dog hung around the outskirts of his property the whole time, evading traps and never letting anyone get near him. But Ring kept trying, until he finally managed to catch the lost dog. Catching Murphy is the tale of how one lost, confused dog brought together so many people.

I loved this story! I think I enjoyed it because I knew from the start that the outcome was a happy one. I can't stand animal stories that end badly.....it's that Old Yeller taint. But I remember the news coverage when the dog was finally returned to his owner. Happy ending! Yay!

I listened to the audio book version of this story. At just over an hour, it's an easy, enjoyable listen. Malcolm Hillgartner narrates. His voice is pleasant and he reads at a nice, even pace. I have partial hearing loss, but was easily able to hear and understand this entire book.

Catching Murphy is part of the Missing Collection from Audible/Amazon Originals. The Missing Collection gathers six true stories about people dealing and recovering from extreme loss or hardship. The stories are varied, but I've liked all that I've listened to so far!

[Tamara Lush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting and emotionally satisfying story about a community that came together to help a lost dog. The writing was excellent and I adored the ending!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a riveting, and finally, heart-warming tale about a 'missing' golden retriever, Murphy , who brought together a Vermont community on a mission to bring him safely home. Ironically, the author, the state correspondent for the Associated Press, was the owner of the property Murphy kept coming back to for food, and he became part of one of his stories for the first time. Not to be missed by dog lovers, this story will remind you in a time when we don't want to read the headlines anymore, that good and kindness still prevail and these are the stories that need to be told and make headlines. 5 stars.

This is one of 6 non-fiction short stories from the recently released Amazon Original Stories 'Missing' collection. This is the fourth one I've read of the series and all have been fascinating stories in their own right from a medical mystery, to a spiritual journey, to a woman with a stolen identity. All are available free to Prime Members for download via the Prime Reads perk. Free audible available for these books, too.

[Maria Vargas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still, there is a science to catching lost dogs that have escaped after a traumatic event. The key is to be as nonthreatening as possible. The number-one rule: don’t chase them or call them by name. Running after a dog screaming will only increase the animal’s fight-or-flight response. Instead, the experts urge patience. A searcher, when spotting a missing canine, should sit or even lie down, not looking at the dog. Some trainers even suggest singing. The dog will investigate and, in most cases, allow itself to be caught.

After reading this book I came to realize I've never liked dogs, but it doesn't matter what you have as a pet... we would do anything to bring them back home. This is the case with Murphy the golden retriever who ran away from his owner after she was in a bad car accident.

They tried all sorts of ways to set up a trap that Murphy couldn't figure out but nothing that dog was too smart. The book has pictures of the many cameras they had set up to keep an eye on him, while they kept trying for six months to catch him!

I was exhausted like Murphy please just let them take you back home.

[Sara]

I don't rate nonfiction.

The story of a missing dog, nature and survival. This was facinating in its exploration of animal behaviour and how dogs hark back to their nature instincts when forced to do so in the wild. It's also examines perseverance and patience on the part of those individuals who so desperately wanted Murphy back home safe. Insightful and inspiring.

[Noreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully written book about the emotional rollercoaster in trying to catch Murphy the dog after his human was involved in a car accident and he jumped out of the car. The amazing work and commitment detailed in this book for over a year and a half is just amazing. It's a shining light in this troubled world, we see a glimpse of how a small Vermont town rallied together to help bring Murphy home. The author a major instrument in the capture of Murphy provides a timeline and the efforts taken during this time. I'm still amazed how a dog could survive a Vermont winter let a lone 2. Murphy is one tough dog.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost Dogs

A family’s dog Murphy got lost and they really loved him. The author of the story was part of the attempt to get Murphy back. Apparently when a dog is in survival mode, calling it only scares it more.

This is the 549 day saga of Murphy on the lam and the lengths people went to help the family bring him home. Three stars, because the repetitive nature of a dog they can’t catch gets monotonous.

[Stacy Croushorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homecoming

Our pets are family and we do anything for them. This family lost their pet after an accident and he traveled the area for almost 2 years without going home. This family didn’t give up, they kept chasing after him and with lots of community help brought their lost fur-baby back home.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about how a whole community came together to try to help a missing dog get back to his people.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to love a short story about how an entire community rallies around catching a dog and getting him reuniting him with his owners.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long 500 plus day hunt

This is a story about a dog that went missing after an automobile accident . The attempted capture is explained day by day, night by night, season by season. The frustration and patience is written in every paragraph. This beautiful golden retriever evades capture and the author and the owner along with the entire town post sightings in the town paper. Who would think this dog previously a pet could or would evade capture for so many months. I couldn't wait to find out what happened and how after so many days in the wild he turned out

[M. Sarki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because it was a dog, and not just any dog but a Golden Retriever, I wanted to read this story. The story was not great, a bit surprising, and the writing was not spectacular.

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

**This review is for the audiobook on Audible.**

Catching Murphy by Wilson Ring, narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner is one of six true stories in the Missing collection about finding, restoring, and/or accepting the losses that define our lives. This specific audiobook focuses on Murphy, a Golden Retriever, and the people who never gave up on their quest to reunite him with his family and bring him home safe and sound. After a terrifying car accident, Murphy runs from the scene. Unable to track down his whereabouts, his owner does what any loving person would do - he searches for him. However, it quickly becomes clear that this is a much more difficult task than he had first anticipated, and after many months of no luck, he begins to wonder if he will ever be reunited with Murphy again. On the surface, this is a story about the love and devotion we have for our pets, as family members and as best friends, but at its core, it's a story of how one dog brought together a community of people across the state of Vermont, and allowed us to see the good in one another, while restoring our faith in each other, right when we need it the most.

The narration is excellent. At around 1.25 hours, this audiobook can be listened to in one sitting. Malcolm Hillgartner made my overall experience enjoyable, and I'm glad I chose to listen to Catching Murphy, rather than read it on Kindle. I was engaged from start to finish, and I think you will feel the same. :-)

Catching Murphy by Wilson Ring, narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner ia story about love, compassion, devotion, teamwork, community, and working together to help others. I recommend this book to those who love animals, as well as those who find joy in helping others. I think teens up through adults will enjoy listening to it the most. It's heartwarming, emotional, and touching; I rate it 5/5 stars. I plan to continue my journey with the Missing collection, but at this point, I'm not sure any of them will be able to top this one!

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)

[Gwen - Chew & Digest Books - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, totally hit the heartstrings with just the name alone. I had to leave our dog, Murphy Grace behind with my last long-term (over a decade) relationship. It made sense, he was keeping the house and I was renting a room in an unfenced house, wasn't sure that I could afford the food or the unexpected Vet bills and I knew my X loved him as much as I did, even if it was a different sort of love. My X still brought him to visit me and he was entirely much better behaved since I tend to let animals do what they want and although it still hurts years later, it was the right decision.

Therefore, this true story with a dog of the of the same name, yanked the hell out of my heartstrings every time his name was mentioned. That's part of the background.

The other part was that I used accidentally to let him run free through the neighborhood as much as I tried to keep him in bounds and behind the fences. The bonus was that he used to bring things back, peaches, perfectly preserved in his mouth along with other fruit, the random obscure and rare plant, and at one point a box of live crickets ready for bait the next day. It was hilarious as long as the neighbors were cool with it and they seemed to laugh because he was so specific in his desires. He ate the cat food at one house and could often be eventually found at his "girlfriend's" house about two doors down if he didn't come home with his prizes before then. He loved the UPS truck and would race down the long drive to jump in the truck and check out the packages as they traveled up our own long drive. to this day, he gets freakishly excited when he hears that diesel engine or brown truck. Seriously, I ran into a bunch of UPS drivers at the local donut shop one day and they knew him as well as not to fear his black lab/great dane size.

This is a story of a different color though, Their Murphy had run from a car accident and wasn't seen or really caught for over a year. There was video surveillance and traps and even though they knew that he would probably be around one house, they could not catch him.

[Amy Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a dog lover, rescue advocate, Catching Murphy (part of the Missing Collection), Murphy’s story, tore at my hear strings from the first page to the last.

Murphy and his person, were in a car accident, traumatizing Murphy. He bolted from the scene of the accident and, was on the run in Vermont for over a year. His family and the community, worked together; day and night trying to feed Murphy, trying to trap him, to bring him home safely to the family who wouldn’t give up on him

Murphy was resilient, surviving the frigid winters of Vermont and eating the food put out for him daily, for his survival and, attempts to trap and rescue him. The happy ending, warmed my heart and also made me cry. Murphy was back with his loved ones, due to so many working together to bring him home where he belongs.

[Angieleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson Ring’s Catching Murphy is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.

After a terrible car accident, Murphy took off on his human and wandered around Vermont for almost two years before eventually being caught.

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good free book (on Amazon Prime). I kept hoping they would get Murphy back.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just really uneventful.
Dog gets away during a car accident.
People spend 1 1/2 years trying to trap him.
Nice, but I couldn’t stop thinking maybe they should leave him alone.

[Liberty {LittyLibby} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A feel-good dog story that doesn't end with the dog dying...

[Nyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not much to say—Smart, lucky dog. Dedicated community.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the joys of living in the country is being able to look into a field and see wildlife living among the people of the town. It’s common to see deer, fox, or woodchucks; through my kitchen window that looks across the brook into the horse pasture, I’ve also seen mink, otter, and the occasional moose. But one Sunday afternoon in early December, when the grass was brown and patchy with snow, I saw a dog.

There is something about a lost pet story that is really captivating. Murphy, a golden retriever who fled from his owner after a car crash, one day appeared in Wilson Ring's back yard.

Catching Murphy, part of the Missing Collection, details the efforts to reunite Murphy with his distraught owner. Efforts which Murphy seemed determined to side-step, avoid, or escape from.

“That first step into the trap is always the toughest for them, and after they do it once, they will go back for food,” Greg James, of The Retrievers, told us. Greg had sent the message to Lisa, who shared it with the rest of the expanding Murphy crew.

As the months rolled by more and more help materialised, providing all the lasted trapping equipment, laser triggers, motion activated cameras, the efforts still seemed fruitless, until one day....

559 days after Murphy was last touched by human hands he went home tonight with his owners, thrilled to be among people once again.

[Megan Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murphy, a golden retriever, escapes after a car crash in Vermont. After the driver is taken care of the owners post lost flyers in the community and begin efforts to be reunited with their dog. Months later, Wilson Rig spots the creature in his fields and calls the appropriate number. However, Murphy is skittish and runs away. The Associated Press writer becomes captivated and worries about the brutal upcoming winter. He puts out food every day, helps the story gain attention, and puts out an escalating array of monitoring equipment and homemade traps. 559 days after his flight from the vehicle, Murphy the dog is captured.
* * * * *------------* * * * *------------* * * * *
This is a good representation of how some stories become bigger as public attention focuses on them. It’s a heart-warming tale about bringing a community together with a goal and shows how humans are obsessed with our pets. The skittish behavior of the dog, highway crossings, donations, disparate expert opinions, forum posts, repeated failures, wildlife encroachment and animal cruelty laws, and other included snippets do well to capture the emotional ups and downs of this frustrating two-year adventure. It will, of course, be more meaningful to those involved or who know about the source story directly.

[Dan'l Danehy-Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

#5 in the Amazon Originals "Missing" series of 6 novella-length essays.

The story Wilson Ring tells here begins in media res, kind of. To be precise, it begins with his first involvement in a story that had already been ongoing for about six months: one December day, he observed a golden retriever in his yard in Vermont. Recognizing the dog as one that was lost in June, he called the owner; but by the time Ed Hamel arrived, the dog was gone.

After a flashback describing how the dog was lost in the first place -- Murphy had been riding with Hamel's granddaughter when she crashed into a tree; when she came to and opened the door, Murphy fled in a panic. He had been living off the land (and trashbins) ever since.

Ring began leaving food out for Murphy, which undoubtedly helped the dog survive the winter. Various attempts to catch him failed for another year, until, of course, they didn't and the essay comes to a happy ending. (This may seem like a spoiler, but I think the title makes the ending sufficient clear that this kind of spoiler is pretty much irrelevant.)

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon has a bunch of "originals" ... short stories around a central theme. They are included in KindleUnlimited (which I have presently) and I think also included (text and audio) for Prime subscribers. The stories/collections can be hit and miss, but can be a good "palate cleanser" between books. So short (just over an hour listening time to the audio) it's not one many would BUY outright, but are perfect as little inclusions in paid subscriptions (like KU/Prime).

Nonfiction, told 1st person, past tense ... a writer for the associated press (I don't see him as an "author" of other "books") has this expanded "article" where he plays a part. Some other reviewers mention hearing about the 'missing dog' in Vermont and the city-wide search over a couple years... maybe it was based on locality, or I just don't really watch much news. I wasn't familiar with the details at all, so the story here unfolded fresh for me.

It was interesting - glad that there was a happy ending.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still, there is a science to catching lost dogs that have escaped a traumatic event.


Set in Waterbury, Vermont.

Wilson and his wife moved to the small community in 1992.

A golden retriever named Murphy, three years old, has been missing for six months. Ed Hamel, an electrician, is Murphy’s owner.

After a car accident with Ed’s granddaughter, Kirstin, Murphy got scared and he ran away.

Constant sightings and near-sightings. Murphy is very shy around people: Lost and seen, but not yet found.

All types of (humane!) traps attempted.

Bringing in the knowledge of: a scientist who specializes in tracking and trapping wolves, a dogcatcher, coyote trappers, the Humane Society, and even game wardens.

The photos included are cool and helpful.

What a damn ordeal, though.

More than year on the loose in the wild—559 days.

Unfortunately, this is too drawn out to be satisfying…but yes, the dog is recovered and there is an HEA.


People ask me why I did it. I simply answer, “How could I not?” Once I’d started, I couldn’t stop.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rooting for Murphy all the way

When a family's dog goes missing after a car accident, the community bands together to find him. The author, a journalist, finds himself swept up in the case when he realizes Murphy's new stomping grounds include his pastureland. A grueling 16 month rescue mission follows, as he and the dog's family learn about the repercussions of traumatic incidents on domestic animals and work to win back Murphy's trust with the help of friends and strangers alike.

Both informative and touching, Catching Murphy details an amazing journey of hope and heartbreak, survival and teamwork. It puts a new perspective on missing pets and the skills required to bring them home. The author weaves his tale around the family, the community, technology, and Murphy, sharing his own thoughts and opinions without overpowering the core of the story.

[Terri's Dangerous When Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give high praise for this book. The writing is good, descriptive and poignant. The author of the story really pulled me in, describing the small town in Vermont, how the accident happened and how the dog was lost. I'll be honest, when I first started reading I thought, "How hard can it be to catch a dog?" Well, as it turned out, it was extremely hard. I laughed out loud several times. That dog was as wily as he was in danger. He escaped the traps set for him time and time again, for going on two years! And an unsung hero of this story is the author himself. It wasn't his dog, he didn't even know the people involved at first, and yet he jumped "all in." The more the dog evaded him, the more plans and plots and contraptions everyone came up with, throughout bitter cold subzero weather sometimes. I was held in suspense. If you want a feel good story, I highly recommend this book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!

How heartbreaking this rescue must have been for the owners! How wonderful that so many people joined the effort, and stayed with it for such a long time.

I just rescued a little Chihuahua that was dumped off in out little town. Its partner was trapped, but she wouldn't get in that cage for anything! Each night, she'd cry and stay by it, though. I started feeding her, and after a cold, rainy night I finally was able to scratch her ears, and pick this cold, shivering 3 lb. doggie up. This was after 2 months!! I ended up loving her. She is so loving, and my other 2 dogs get along with her.

So happy to have come across this well documented story. A frustrating, but grand adventure!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great true short story

I gave this book 5 stars because it was well written. The subject matter hit home. I love reading stories about dogs, especially Golden Retrievers and Australian Shepherds. Both breeds I know very well, their personalities and how they think. This is so typical of one of the Goldens named Becky I raised. She passed away at age 16 several years ago and I still think about her everyday. She was born at 12:01 a.m. on July 11. I assisted her mother Naomi and clocked each pup in. She was one of 8 born that day. This book brought back warm memories of my "Golden Days", and other memories that would astonish you, like the time she chewed through a chain link fence just to get to the other side!

[Lady Willpower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical missing dog story, this one begins with Murphy, a golden retriever, escaping from a car accident and living as a stray in the local community for nearly two years. The author becomes involved when Murphy shows up in his pasture one day and keeps coming back as Ring tries to lure him in with food. The strength of this tale lies in the dedicated townspeople who tirelessly watch out for Murphy and work to bring him home.

While Murphy and his family are eventually reunited, the book ultimately raises more questions than it answers. Could canine PTSD really explain his extended absence from home? Why would he run away when approached by his guardian, Ed Hamel, only to calmly return home months later? It felt like something was missing from the story.