According to the Los Angeles Times, 20 months after Murphy, the golden retriever, went missing on a camping trip in Tahoe National Forest, the timid dog was reunited with her family after being spotted at a campground surfacing from the woods. Nathan and Erin Braun were camping in October 2012 when they were separated from their 5-year-old dog.
This dog survived 20 months, including two full winters in Tahoe completely on it’s own.
“After 20 long months of being in the Tahoe National Forest, Murphy has come home. As you can imagine we are completely shocked and amazed with the miracle of her surviving this long,” stated the Braun family on Murphy’s Facebook page.
Nathan and Erin set up a Facebook page for Murphy with constant updates since 2012 and posted fliers in hope of her return. Nearly two years later, the adorable golden retriever is back in the Braun home after a camper at French Meadows Reservoir spotted the dog five miles away from where she went missing. The Brauns were informed and instantly drove from their home to the site. After a few days of searching and no results, the Brauns left Murphy’s old bed and some clothing hoping that she would appear.
“The very first night I laid it out I heard some movement,” Jason Smith told KXTV-TV of Sacramento. “There was Murphy, sleeping on the blanket. And right there I knew, that’s Murphy. That’s their dog. It was curled up with its head on the hat.”
The Braun’s plan seemed successful when they received a call from the campground host a week later informing them that Murphy had been sleeping on the bed. The host not only spotted Murphy, but he was able to get her in a kennel. The family drove out to the site again to retrieve their long-lost companion. Murphy is described as frail and thin, but she is at home recovering and enjoying her time there.
“As you can imagine we are completely shocked and amazed with the miracle of her surviving this long,” the Braun family said.
I fish jackson meadows often, saw this dog last year, followed us around the lake. We figured it belonged too one of the lakes cabin owners. Wow, wow. Amazing story!
I’m confused, I see 2 years for the furbaby on head lines! the anchorman says one year! the reporter, Rowena says the furbaby missing 20 months, the baby went missing in October 2012 found June 2014, that’s 18 months or 1-1/2 years, not 2 years, not 20 months,
and definitely not 1 year… nice for the Braun family to their Furbaby back…
this is why people stop trusting news reports, bad reporting!
This story is nearly 1-1/2 years old or almost 10 years old in dog years.
Glad they got their dog back.