Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sitka, our beloved pet dog, 1999-2013

Our dog Sitka passed away in peace yesterday at nearly 14 years of age.  She was our 'first-born' and we adopted her as a puppy while visiting a Petsmart in Little Rock, AR.  She was extremely fluffy with a short tail, and she made no sounds for the first week we had her.

Sitka chewing on a stick in our backyard in Conway, AR.

She grew fast and thrived, and kept our house lively, chasing laser points at high speed, and running laps around the house.

She was very friendly and protective of our girls.
Rhiannon with Sitka at a park in Conway, AR
Sitka with Rhiannon in our backyard in Conway, AR



She took her obedience training (fairly) seriously.

She later chewed through this leash when she felt the need to release herself on her own recognizance.


She loved all kinds of weather and conditions.


And like any good dog...

She loved walks:



And hated squirrels...No, the squirrel did not attack her leg.  She chased a squirrel, popped one of her knee ligaments, and required surgical repair.

She was always helpful around the holidays.  






Especially on Halloween...
Sitka as a bat.

Bat costume

Rhiannon and Fiona are Backyardigans, neighbor kids are The Incredibles, and Sitka as a bat.
As a princess

As the Tin Man (the year that I was Scarecrow, Elizabeth was Elpheba, Rhiannon was Dorothy, and Fiona was Glynda.
She loved her many visits to the Olsen cabin.




But she always loved hanging out at home too.



The girls included her in many of their stories, including Fiona's first major book, in which a dog turns into a mermaid dog to rescue a mermaid from sharks.

Sitka was also the inspiration for a classic blues song, which I'm sure you all know by heart, but the lyrics of which are below, in case you care to sing a verse.

Wet Dog Blues

My mama don’t love me,
Don’t love me no more,
She puts me in the shower
And she closes the glass door

I’ve got those wet dog blues
I have those wet dog blues
My mama don’t love me, don’t love me no more
I’ve got those wet dog blues

She turns on the water
While I’m trapped within
Now my fur’s not fluffy
It’s just stickin’ to my skin

I’ve got those wet dog blues
I’ve got those wet dog blues
My fur, it ain’t fluffy, my mama don’t love me,
I’ve got those wet dog blues

She lathers me up and
Sprays the water again
Now all my favorite odors
Are just washin’ down the drain

I’ve got those wet dog blues
I’ve got those wet dog blues
My fur, it ain’t fluffy, my mama don’t love me,
I’ve got those wet dog blues

(harmonica solo)

The towel comes out and
I stop my complainin
I’m off the hook for now
But in a week we’ll bathe again

I’ve got those wet dog blues
I’ve got those wet dog blues
My fur, it ain’t fluffy, my mama don’t love me,
I’ve got those wet dog blues



Sitka was a sweet and beautiful dog, with the softest fur.





Fiona wrote a little story book about our loss of Sitka.



We will always remember our wonderful Sitka.






Saturday, October 12, 2013

Welcome to the new Murray family blog.  I have neglected to send a lot of email updates, and this site will allow us to share photos and news of the family.