When Emma Bragg and her family walked into Wingecarribee Animal Shelter one afternoon, little did they know they would return with another child.
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In the four years since adopting him as a puppy, Murphy has grown into quite the colourful dog.
Ms Bragg said Murphy was a nice, everyday reminder of her animal-loving mother.
"My mum had just died and she was a huge animal lover," she told the Southern Highland News.
"It was about this time of year, cold and windy, and we went out to the shelter just to have a look, thinking there wouldn't be anything for us and Murphy was there with his little sister.
"They were part of a litter of about seven puppies that were dumped at Stephens Park.
"It was a nice representation of my mum because she was such a fanatic about animals and always thought it was very important for kids to have pets to help learn about attachment, birth and death, those sorts of things."
In what would be a preview of his unique personality, Murphy immediately found himself in a spot of trouble.
"We were actually minding two of her [mum's] dogs and one was an older one who was a bit blind," Ms Bragg explained.
"When we brought Murphy home he must have jumped or irritated the older dog and he turned and growled at him but as he did it he tore part of the eyelid of Murphy.
"I took him out to James Blackshaw at Moss Vale Vet Hospital and he operated on him. He ended up having two operations on his eye.
"Eventually it was a great success and he has no problems with his eye."
It was this and another little adventure that eventually gave Murphy his name.
"I work as a nurse at Frensham and I took him in to visit the girls who miss their pets and within 30 seconds he was in the old health centre which had rat poison in the storeroom.
"He was running around in there and then came out with this blue stuff in his mouth.
"Murphy's law, if anyone is going to get into trouble it will be him."
Ms Bragg said it is important for people to adopt over buying and that prospective owners will often be surprised at the unique personalities adopted pets provide.
"Adopted dogs have so much more character most of the time," she said.
"It stops the puppy industry as well and there are so many beautiful dogs out there who need a loving home. Murphy is the happiest, friendliest character and somebody needs to look after him.
"Everybody says he should be in the movies."
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