If producers need inspiration for another Homeward Bound movie, golden retriever Murphy is a perfect candidate!
The Los Angeles Times reports the 7-year-old dog was separated from her owners, Nathan and Erin Braun, during a family camping trip in Tahoe National Forest 20 months ago. Nathan and Erin posted fliers and created a Facebook page with the hope someone would spot the lost dog.
After waiting for news for two full winters, a camper emailed to Brauns earlier this month to say he thought he saw Murphy. The family rushed to the campsite to see if they had better luck securing the pup, but their search was, again, fruitless.
As a last-ditch effort, the family left behind Murphy’s old bed and several items of their own clothes with the hope the golden retriever would pick up the scent. The campground host, who knew about the Brauns’ plan, said he noticed the dog sleeping on the clothes the first night, but wasn’t able to get close enough to put a leash on her. After a few days of patience, the hesitant dog finally came around… And the Brauns were able to reunite with their long-lost pet!
“As you can imagine, we are completely shocked and amazed with the miracle of her surviving this long,” the Brauns wrote in a June 16 Facebook post. “She is on the road to recovery, very thin and frail but happy to be home with her family. Words cannot describe how grateful we are.”
The camper who secured Murphy said he was glad to help — but just wished he knew what kinds of things Murphy would have to say about her adventure.
“That’s an incredible story… What that dog could tell us right now if she could talk,” Jason Smith said. “Because, how she survived, I have no idea.”
