Rose Parade 2024: Meet Murphy, the chocolate Labrador likely to steal hearts on New Year’s Day
Any Rose Parade aficianado will tell you: The important people behind America’s favorite New Year’s Day tradition all wear uniforms.
There’s the bright white suits worn by the myriad Tournament of Roses volunteers who hold back crowds and escort floats down 5.5 miles of Colorado Boulevard.
There’s the dingy white jumpsuits worn by the “pooper scoopers” who clean up after the equestrian acts.
There’s the red coat worn by the Tournament of Roses president who knows a full eight years before what’s in store.
And, for the first time, for the 2024 Rose Parade, there’s a bespoke white satin coat worn by a chocolate Labrador retriever named Murphy. The beloved and soulful family pet is scheduled to ride high aboard a double-decker Omnibus wearing a custom-made jacket.
And, with such a swanky uniform, Murphy, is sure to steal the show.
Murphy Aghajanian, 5, didn’t ask to be named “First Dog,” but he also didn’t object when owner and Tournament of Roses President Alex Aghajanian presented him with the idea.
Afterall, there have been pooches in the parade before.
In 2017, eight canine surfers performed on the Lucy Pet Foundation Rose Parade Float. They rode waves in a 75-foot-long semi-trailer filled with 5,000 gallons of water. The float set records as the longest and heaviest float in the Rose Parade.
In 2009, two skateboarding bulldogs showed their stuff on a Natural Balance Rose Parade Float.
But those, and most others, are dogs on floats.
As far as Tournament of Roses officials can tell, Murphy will be the first “First Dog” to ride in an official Rose Parade vehicle in its 135-year history. Tournament of Roses President Libby Evans Wright, in 2006, had plans to include her dog as dignitary in the parade, Aghajanian said, but that pup pulled out due to the rain that year.
Alex Aghajanian, in addition to orchestrating his love of music as the 2024 parade theme — Celebrating a World of Music — also wanted to embody his love for canines.
“I knew about a year and a half after we got him, that including (Murphy) in the parade was a way to include other dog lovers,” said Aghajanian.
Murphy is probably the smartest dog the lifelong pet owner Aghajanian has ever been around, he said.
There’s something about Murphy’s demeanor, that when you look into those imploring brown eyes, “it makes you want to talk to him,” said Aghajanian, who confessed to starting plenty of conversations with his best friend.
“But, then, when you ask him a question,” Aghajanian said, “You realize he can’t talk back to you.”
If Murphy could talk, he’d have plenty to say about preparations to be the Rose Parade’s First Dog.
Like how about the three fittings he had to sit through at Maestro’s Custom Tailors in Sierra Madre?
Ultimately, Murphy looked forward to coming to the shop, said Kristine Keshishyan, whose husband Ruben Keshishyan has fashioned the red coats for at least the last five Tournament presidents.
Ruben chose the fabric for its fanciness, said Kristine Keshishyan, and because Alex wanted something that would keep Murphy cool.
And the color? Well, only the Tournament president is allowed to wear red, said Kristine. Thus, the white.
There are special loops built-in high in the jacket for Murphy’s special collar complete with a silk, red bow tie. And, Murphy has a name tag just like his Dad’s.
But those first couple canine fittings? Well, Murphy is, after all, a dog.
“Because you know,” said Kristine Keshishyan, “he’s not a human. Because when you say ‘Stand up,’ he lays down.”
After a few treats, Murphy cooperated and allowed his sleek brown body to be festooned in the silk jacket, complete with lapels and pockets.
The First Dog seemed a little tense wearing his full get-up.
But once the jacket was on he settled in. No barking or whining or tugging. He was a natural.
And wearing his full regalia for the first time is when the First Dog performed his first Rose Parade miracle.
Kristine Keshishyan — who screamed and ran from dogs since she was a child — decided to come out from behind the counter and give Murphy a pat on his white silk-covered back.
“It’s the first time in my life I petted a dog,” Keshishyan said. “It was a good day.”
— Photographer Trevor Stamp contributed.