Grieving dog owner was scrolling an adoption site hoping for a new beginning — until one photo stopped her cold and left her in tears

Mourning the loss of a pet is a devastating time that most pet owners struggle to cope with. While it takes a lot to recover from the pain, opening your heart to new beginnings is a first step. That is exactly what grieving owner Lindsey had planned to do after her beloved pup of nine years, Murphy, passed away. She hopped on a popular pet adoption site and was scrolling for dogs when one photo left her feet cold. Lindsey was moved to tears by a strange coincidence that she believed was a sign from the universe.   

Lindsey, who hails from Los Angeles, and her husband had decided to put down their faithful dog forever following his endless struggle with terminal cancer, as reported by Wamiz. Murphy was a Wire-haired Pointer cross whose puppy charm had once caught Lindsey’s eyes. She instantly decided to adopt him and then began their nearly decade-long adventurous journey. He would travel, hike, and visit new cities with the owners, creating lifelong memories of their blissful time together. "He meant everything to us,” the 32-year-old owner shared. On their last trip, the owners noticed Murphy was not as spirited and had slowed down. A prompt vet checkup revealed the life-threatening cancer battle that Murphy eventually lost.  

Soon after his passing, Lindsey found herself feeling empty and would imagine the sound of his footsteps around the house. She decided it was never too soon to adopt a new pup and started looking for potential dogs on PetFinder. Scrolling through the website, she stumbled upon a particular dog who was a doppleganger of her late pet with the same name, Murphy. However, this dog lived in Pennsylvania, but his uncanny resemblance to her late dog had her heart set on him. The shocked owner showed it to her husband and dug for details about the dog. She discovered strange similarities to her beloved dog she was still mourning.  

The new Murphy wore a green collar, which Lindsey likened to the color of the blanket the late Murphy was wrapped in his final moments. He was also 10 years old, a number that resonated with the owner as her dog was put to sleep at 10 p.m., per the source. Lindsey was both unnerved and slightly hopeful. She felt like the “universe was shouting something at” her. While she instantly wanted to adopt him, it was easier said than done. The new Murphy had been waiting at the shelter in Pennsylvania for 10 months but had not been adopted yet. 

Lindsey would have gladly taken him in, but the dog’s anxiety issues and transfer to California were challenging. Nevertheless, she was determined to find him a loving home even if she could not adopt him. In an emotional post shared on her TikTok, @scrubhacks, the dog owner shared glimpses of her beautiful years with her Murphy as she traveled the world with him. “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard,” the overlay text hinted.

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