Dogs · by Yui Tanaka · 2026-09-04

posting this because Murphy belonged to my whole family, not just me

Murphy was the lab who met my daughter before she could walk and let my son read bad picture books at him like they were urgent literature. We said goodbye last week at 14. The house is too neat now and I hate it.

53 sparks · 5 comments

Comments

Maya Williams · 11 likes

Dogs who grow up with kids leave a giant shape behind. Thinking of you.

Niamh Byrne · 7 likes

The house being too neat after a dog is gone is painfully real.

Ethan Brooks · 1 likes

My parents still find random tennis balls from our old lab years later. It hurts and helps somehow.

Yui Tanaka · 1 likes

Thanks everyone. My daughter put one of his old bandanas by the front door because 'he always waited there.' absolutely wrecked me.

Camila Soto · 0 likes

He sounds deeply loved. I'm sorry for your family's loss.