Commemoration Thursday of Danny, a St. Lawrence Market fixture

An overwhelming number of phone calls have busied the switchboard at Toronto Animal Services as anxious callers offer aid to Tank, a beloved black Labrador retriever who belonged to a street-newspaper vendor near St. Lawrence Market known as Danny.

A commemoration of Dan Murphy will be held in the Market Kitchen on Thursday 25 Sept. from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

About 10 years ago, Dan spent 3 days “planting” scores of red bricks on end neatly and tightly to form the border of the guerilla garden at the northwest corner of The Esplanade and Princess St.  I believe he was then one of Bob Kemp’s Boys. I know Dan O’Leary paid him whatever the going rate was at the time ($10, I think) for Bob’s Boys. A decade later the bricks are still in place, doing their border bit—that’s how well the job was done. A few years later, Dan was bragging that he was able to afford an apartment of his own, talking about “new” furnishings, etc. Today I mentioned his death to Chuck, the man who holds the North Market door open for visitors. He didn’t know about it, immediately said he wants that dog! Dear Tank was picked up by Dan when a previous owner died. Try to interview the dog.

— Ewa Jarmicka

Danny posted himself and Tank outside the liquor store across from the Market and was popular among scores of Market patrons and visitors to the new Market Street Oberman Walk restaurants.

Of course Danny and Tank had been a fixture on the scene long before those new businesses were opened and new visitors were also fond of the inseparable buddies.

A memorial to Danny and Tank placed by some of his many friends.

Danny died on Sept. 16, and Tank was taken to Animal Services while the city determines there is no will from Danny specifying where Tank should be taken.

The calls were triggered by this ad hoc remembrance of Danny that gave the location where Tank was taken.

Tank has been described by city workers as depressed, but seems to be cheering up ever so slightly.

Most callers are said to have places where they recommend Tank be taken and many others offer to take Tank into their homes.

The city must follow legislation that specifies how many days the city must look for signs of a will or other indication where Danny wanted Tank to be taken.

It’s not likely there is any such document, so after the legislated number of days which end Sept. 27, Tank will be available for adoption by anyone who qualifies. But whether Tank is released for adoption is at the discretion of the supervisor.

The Bulletin will keep you advised of the disposition of Tank and also when Tank is available to be adopted.

— Paulette Touby, Publisher