Hi Mark,
I read your book this weekend, and cried all the way through it. I felt your pain as if Spritey was my dog. I would read, a little bit, then put it down and hug my dog, Darla, a Boston Terrier/Beagle mix. She was getting quite tired of me, and hoping I would finish the book soon. I never dreamed that I would be in your shoes so soon. I took my baby in for her yearly check-up and shots last night, and the vet spent a lot of time listening to her heart. That’s never a good sign. She told me that her heart rate was 200 and should be 120. She did an ecg, and an x-ray of her heart and recommended that I take her to see a specialist in internal medicine for dogs. Of course I fell apart, as Darla is like one of my children, she just has four legs. My oldest daughter jokes and says that Darla is my favorite child. We just got back from the specialist, and the news was not good. She has problems on both sides of her heart, and probably only has a year to live. She was a shelter dog also, so we are not quite sure of her age. We think she is 10. She has touched my heart as no other dog has. I have always loved my dogs, but this one has been my favorite dog that I have ever had in my 54 years. I feel so broken and sad. I can’t imagine life without her. She has been my best friend for 7 years. I am going to make whatever time she has left the best time she has ever had. I hope that the vet is wrong and we can have more time, not less. I hope that I gave her as much as she gave me. Thanks for all you do, and for opening you heart to all of your listeners and telling us the story of Sprite and Pepsi. They are lucky dogs. God’s blessings to you and your lovely family.

Cathy from TX