Murife Don't Run: Origin And What To Do When Chased By A Dog

The South African name Molefe, which is pronounced as Murife, has been setting the Kenyan internet on fire after a video went viral showing a man being chased by two relentless puppies.

What is particularly amazing about it is two women could be heard trying to frantically convince Murife not to run away from the puppies despite the threat they posed.

The two women can be made to believe that they had a better understanding of the little canines even though they can be easily dealt with compared to a fully grown dog. By Murife running away, he was making his predicament even worse.

Ignoring their warnings, the man sprinted away anyway, with the dogs charging after him. One person recorded the incident, and it found its way into Kenyan territory, with different users using the audio to make clips of their own.

Here is the video in question:

Who are these people lying to Murife not to run??? ????????????Murife Run for your life!!! pic.twitter.com/bIdSw75r9r — Soxxy ???????? (@DjSoxxy) September 26, 2022

The first Kenyan who shared the video was radio and TV producer Dj Soxxy who posted it on Twitter and now has over 54,100 views.

"Who are these people lying to Murife not to run? Murife Run for your life!" he wrote.

Where did it come from?

Viral Tea traced its origins to a South African homestead with Murife, the subject of the entire clip, bursting himself into African stardom online. It is actually called Molefe, pronounced as Murife, a name given to male babies.

Molefe originated from the Tswana clan in South Africa which means pay her damages. The name is given to individuals who portray ingenuity and independence and children named Molefe are believed to possess some skills in creative thinking that enhance productivity.

The video prompted Kenyans to produce masterclass recreations, with one of them using it on a past South African film where a man from an indigenous tribe alongside two tourists took off after noticing a lion heading right for them.

Another had used the audio clip in a past video of running battles from the 2017 post-election chaos where a demonstrator was recorded being chased by General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

One user took a different angle and edited a screenshot of the Manchester derby pitting Manchester City against Manchester United on Sunday, October 2 and included Murife's name instead of Manchester United.

An edited screenshot of the Man City vs Man United schedule. /TWITTER

A mere search on TikTok revealed that the 'Murife don't run' videos have drawn a cumulative count of over 228.6 million views.

What To Do When Chased By A Dog

Despite the excitement that comes with the Murife video, many Kenyans have no idea how to react when in the same predicament as Murife. This is despite a dog being termed as a man's best friend.

At times a dog is friendly enough to ask for a pet or a belly rub. The worst-case scenario is when a dog becomes aggressive and the fact is no one knows which dog they might encounter.

“Every situation is different. What diffuses one dog’s aggression could intensify another. Runners and cyclists can encounter loose or aggressive dogs anywhere," explains Ron Berman, a canine behavioural consultant and forensic dog expert, to Triathlete.

If you come across an aggressive dog, you are advised to do the following:

1. Stop, drop, and roll.

Stop your movement, drop your gaze, and roll your body sideways so it’s in a diagonal posture away from the canine, rather than facing it straight on.

Standing straight up toward the canine and making eye contact can be seen as a challenge to the dog, but dropping your gaze and turning slightly will decrease your physical stature, making you look less formidable.

2. Back away.

It’s important that you not continue in the direction of the animal, as most dogs will protect their territorial boundaries. When seeing a loose dog while running, the best thing is to increase the distance between you and the animal.

Most dogs are not aggressive enough to attack a runner and will stop at a certain point. But don’t run away, as that may trigger the chase response. Instead, back away slowly without making direct eye contact, and be aware of your footing so you don’t trip and fall.

3. Freeze.

If the dog follows you at a distance while you back away, then hold your ground. “Freeze and act like a tree. The canine will probably bark, bluff-charge, and possibly jump at you, but by receiving no response, many will meander off within a few minutes," a behavioural expert notes.

If that still doesn’t work, sternly yell “Get back!” several times while attempting to back away once more.

4. If there’s an attack, choose your strategy.

If you’re still standing, kick at the canine forcefully but not recklessly. Move to a wall where you can sustain your balance and ward off the attacking canine.

If you’re taken to the ground, gouge the eyes or grab the back of the neck. You can also use tools on hand, like a stick or rock on the ground, or even a water bottle from your bike. This can defuse the situation until the dog gives up or someone else can step in to help.

If the dog is large enough to push you over, shift to protection mode. One good strategy is to curl up in a ball, protecting your head and neck. Lie still and play dead. Most dogs will calm down in this scenario, as you are no longer a threat and may just leave the scene.

5. Don’t give chase.

After a dog bite or attack, you may be tempted to follow the dog so you can confront its owner. Avoid this impulse after a dog chases you, as it may threaten the dog, leading to another attack.

6. Call 911.

Emergency response services can dispatch the police and animal control, who can start the process of tracking down the dog and its owner (if there is one). Be prepared to give as much detail about the attack as possible.

“Try to remember as much as you can: breed, size, color of the dog. What color was the dog’s collar? Also, if you noticed where the dog came from, what house, building or property did it come out of?” the experts advise.

7. Get documentation.

If an owner is identified, officials will likely contact you with additional information, including whether or not the dog has an up-to-date vaccination record for rabies. You are also recommended to photograph any injuries for court records and/or insurance claims.

8. Get medical attention.

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to go to your doctor or the hospital for treatment. For a surface wound, like a scratch, wash thoroughly with water, apply an antibacterial cream, and keep a close eye on it–if it becomes very red, sore, or inflamed, see a doctor.

If a bite broke the skin, however, you need to go to a doctor and you might need stitches, antibiotics, or injections to protect you from tetanus or rabies.

A dog running. /FILE