Kim Chronister, mother of Gators freshman pitcher Katie Chronister, holds Murphy at Wednesday night's game. (Photo: Jim Burgess/For UAA Communications)
Murphy Is At Home at Gators Softball
Thursday, April 20, 2017 | Softball
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If you have been to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium lately -- or tuned into a Gators game on the SEC Network -- you probably know who Murphy is.
By: Bianca Cacho
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In looking at the Gators softball team's success this season, which includes a No. 1 ranking, 41 wins in 44 games, and a big win last week over then-No. 1 Florida State, it is difficult to imagine anything stealing attention away from these ladies.
The Gators are fan favorites and have set multiple attendance records in recent weeks.
Still, there's Murphy.
You may have seen him on ESPN. Or bumped into him at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Murphy is not your average fan. He likes to kiss total strangers in public.
Murphy has special ties to the Gators. His owner, Kim Chronister, is the mother of UF freshman pitcher Katie Chronister. The tail-wagging Murphy is a Labrador in case you need more clues.
With Murphy, there is more than meets the eye. Sure, he is probably one of the most adorable things to walk through the gates at UF's home stadium, but this pup is serious. Murphy is in training to become a seeing-eye dog and is in his socialization phase.
He is not the first Chronister puppy to be trained for the good deed of helping others. Murphy is No. 4 in the lineup.
"I started when the girls were in middle school," Chronister said. "They needed community service hours and they were always playing softball and I knew we couldn't do anything traditional. I contacted Southeastern Guide Dog Agency, filled out an application and we got a dog."
According to Kim Chronister, Katie and her sister's job was to wash and feed the puppy since you have to be 18 to actually train the dogs.
Taking a break while the girls were in high school, Chronister resumed training puppies once her daughters started college.
So what does a seeing-eye dog trainer actually do?
"I am a puppy raiser," Chronister said. "I do the training, the socialization, the basic stuff and then Murphy will go back to the school and that is when the actual guide dog training starts."
While it might seem arduous to bring along a dog wherever you go, Chronister enjoys the company.
Murphy checks out the action at Wednesday night's win over UCF. (Photo: Jim Burgess/For UAA Communications)
"I am used to it; I have no problem with bringing him anywhere,'' she said.
Chronister praised the city of Gainesville for being a great place to socialize a puppy like Murphy.
"I really do not run into any problems with businesses and things like that telling me I can't bring the dog," Chronister said. "The day I got Murphy I brought him to a softball game and he has been coming ever since."
As a personal witness, Murphy has indeed been at every game, never failing to put a smile on someone's face.
"The Diamond Club knew him and always said hello to him, so he has had his own little following and then the SEC Network put him on and then the next thing you know, he is getting pictures and selfies taken with him,'' she said
The new fame Murphy is experiencing is great for his socialization training but how is he handling the new-found fame?
During this interview Murphy fell asleep on a visitor's feet. It appears fame can be exhausting for dogs too.
