Columbia Humane Society

Murphy was, for all intents and purposes, a happy-go-lucky guy. But through no fault of his own, he found himself facing homelessness. Knowing their situation was changing, his owners reached out with very heavy hearts and asked CHS to help rehome him.

Sadly, Murphy hasn’t known much stability in his life. He was originally purchased from a breeder in the Midwest about ten years ago. During that time, he was dropped off by his original owner several times and at multiple locations. Eventually, a family member stepped in and said, “Enough—he deserves a stable home.” They went and picked him up and kept him for about two years, but his original owner never came back for him.

The family who later reached out for placement help had no information about Murphy’s medical history and no resources to get him veterinary care.

When they contacted CHS, we sprang into action. We knew Murphy wouldn’t do well in a kennel setting, so we immediately began working to place him in a foster home so he wouldn’t have to spend time in a kennel. The response from the community was overwhelming — we had nearly 20 homes to choose from. Working alongside his previous owner, we carefully interviewed applicants to find the best fit for Murphy.

One application stood out right away. A wonderful woman who had recently been widowed and was searching for just the right companion applied, and we knew she was exactly what Murphy needed.

When Murphy arrived at the shelter, we quickly realized he wasn’t quite as described. His previous owners had said he was in “perfect” health — which turned out to be a bit of an exaggeration. Our staff found multiple masses on his gums, significant dental disease, a dull coat, long nails, and he was not neutered or up to date on vaccinations.

We scheduled a vet visit right away, created a treatment plan, ran bloodwork, and got needed vaccines on board.

With the help of WestieMed and our amazing local donors, Murphy received his much-needed neuter, a full dental with ten extractions plus five teeth that fell out on their own, removal of his mouth masses, and a proper nail trim. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make Murphy’s care possible.

Today, this little guy is recovering beautifully in his new home with his new mom and is looking forward to a brand-new chapter — one with comfort, stability, and no more dental pain.

Update July 7, 2026:

I am the very lucky owner of Murphy, the sweet, lovable Westie who needed a new home last January. I don’t think I could have ever found a better dog for me. Murphy came well trained , and friendly, but understandably a bit reserved. He’s mild mannered most of the time. He’s never aggressive with other dogs or new people. He’s 9 or 10 years old.

Pretty quickly he warmed up to me and soon he made himself comfortable in my home in Columbia City. We put a dog door in for him and I have a big fenced back yard.

He is now very attached to me, but he likes everyone. And everyone adores him. He always wants to go for a car ride. I can’t take him anywhere without many comments about how adorable he is. My three year old granddaughter is especially fond of him. When I have to leave him for more than a few hours he goes over to my son’s house and property in Deer Island, and he’s happy there too, playing with their two big dogs and roaming around in the woods.

At my granddaughter’s birthday party he was very excited by the bubble machine. He likes to munch on the strawberries in my raised bed strawberry patch. This might give you an idea of his sweet funny personality.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Murphy’s vet and dental bills. He is healthy and happy.

Lisa Beggio, CNED

Executive Director

Columbia Humane Society