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John Murphy
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- Mt Martha Victoria
- Australia
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Welcome, John Murphy!
Profile Information
- How many Irish Setters do you have?
- 1
- How long have you owned Irish Setters?
- 37 years
- About Me:
- I have had six Irish Setters since 1974, almost continuously. Three have been puppies and three have been mature Setters when we adopted them, including one from the lost dogs' home and another from a couple who decided that a Setter wasn't for them. Our current Setter, Flame, is almost 11 years of age. She was a successful showdog prior to her retirement. We have had her for 7 years.
John Murphy's Blog
MANY THANKS FOR WARM WELCOME
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 4:01pm 5 Comments 0 Favorites
Thank you to those who have welcomed me to Exclusively Setters. I look forward to enjoying the site and interacting with others who also have the pleasure of owning a delightful Irish Setter.
I have had six Setters over the last 37 years (Roy, Kelly, Missy, Jessie, Jessie and Flame). During Jessie's time we discovered another Irish at the local pound who we adopted, but her name was Jessie as well. Apparently she had been on the streets for a month before we found her at the…
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Welcome to ES John!!! welcome cuddles to Flame :-)
Hi John pleased to be your ES friend
Hi John,
Welcome to ES. I see you've already made some wonderful friends here. I am also from Melbourne & my Irish Setter girl is Tess. She will be 10 this coming Saturday. This is a great place to meet lots of lovely 'Setter' people so I hope you enjoy it here. Flame looks a beautiful girl. Will look forward to seeing some more pics. of her here.
Again welcome.
Welcome John, lovely to read you are also owned by your setter! Flame looks gorgeous. They are just so lovely with their grey faces. My old girl, Emby turns 13 this Sunday.
cheers from sunny Queensland, Cheryl
Thanks for the invite John and very happy to become your new ES friend!!! Welcome cuddles to beautiful Flame too :-)
Hi Chantal.
Thank you for your email. Yes, the relationship with an Irish Setter senior citizen is pretty special, albeit unfortunately short. My relationship with 11-year-old Flame, particularly our communication, is becoming clearer and closer (hopefully not imaginary or wishful thinking). Our little intimate moments are quite special. I am becoming increasingly conscious, however, of the fact that our time together is limited. Makes me appreciate her even more (as you know from your own experience with MC). In their twilight years they can be taken from us at any time and without warning.
Our last Irish passed away at 11 years after having a seizure in the morning while on a walk and her last breath at 3.00 am the following morning. I sat up with her all night as she had periodic seizures. It was clear that she wasn't going to make it. It wan't the first tme I had sat up all night with a very sick doggie.
It's amazing that MC's mother was 17. I've not heard of an Irish living to that ripe old age.
I am considering another Irish. The breeder from whom we adopted Flame seven years ago has another Setter who's three plus. Her owners asked the breeder to look after her when they went overseas but they never came back. The breeders plan to get a litter from her before rehousing her. She been in the show ring recently.
It's a big decision for us as we are not keen to jeopardise Flame's special position in our lives by taking the other dog on the grounds of sympathy. I have no doubt that she will be found a home if we decide not to take her. Flame is our priority. Previously I have had three Setters at the one time, so I am aware of the joys but also of the demands.
My partner works in psychiatry and she tells me that my desire to get another dog when Flame's in her twilight years is my attempt to avoid or soften the grief from losing Flame. This is the downside of having a partner who works in psychiatry!! Over the last 23 years I've always had a 'doggie bridge' from one dog to the next.
I can imagine how hard it must be for Billy Connelly living with Pamela Stephenson!
Anyway, we have until Christmas to decide.
I really enjoyed your photos. Any of them could have been of Flame or the five others that we have had over the years. It's clear that Irish Setters throughout the world have much in common. Their owners too.
Best wishes,
John
Thank you, John. I am very happy to be your friend. Some of my English Setters have been rescued too. Helping animals makes me feel worthwhile. As Katherine Hepburn said: Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give, which is everything.
I knew that there must be more to Katherine Hepburn than her acting and Spencer Tracy. She had wisdom to share.
What a wonderful part of Victoria for Flame to retire to. The sea air and the beach would be lovely for her. Kerry and Murphy have just started to have a touch of grey. Their Granny had a lovely white face in her later years so it will be interesting to see how the boys go.
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