Dear Mark,
I received ‘Rescuing Sprite’ as a Christmas Gift from my boyfriend Larry. It was the best gift anyone has ever given me, besides my American Eskimo dog Nina. You see, last year, I had to put my little girl Nina to sleep. She had epilepsy. I worked in an animal clinic for five years as a grief counselor, and even though I had helped hundreds of families through the process of the heart-wrenching decision of ending a pet’s life, I always struggled with the personal decision I made. I knew it was the right decision– but it was so hard for me to let go.

Nina had multiple seizures on a regular basis, and was on two different courses of therapy to try to stop the seizures. The last time she had a bout of seizures, she had eight grand mal seizures in a row, and the seizures changed her personality greatly. The doctors said the brain damage caused by lesioning was only going to get worse, and the drug therapy was now damaging her liver, and causing it to fail. She suffered from the seizures since she was four years old, and was now eleven, but I just could not bring myself to let her go, because she was my baby. I couldn’t have kids, so my ex-husband had gotten her for me as sort of a ‘booby prize’ in lieu of a child. She outlasted a marriage and together, we forged through good and bad times, Nina taught me about so many fantastic things in life– her spirit sparkled through those gorgeous dark eyes, and warm, soft white coat. She taught me what it was to keep trying in the face of adversity, and to keep smiling, no matter what.

My mother and I disagreed when it came time for me to make the decision. Your book brought us back together. After what seems like an eternity of doubting my decision, even though the doctors and I know it was the right thing to do, I have to say, “Thank You so much Mark, for sharing your incredibly personal and compassionate story.” I have struggled for so long, and Your book was a gift in so many ways because not only did I enjoy learning about your wonderful family, and your beautiful Sprite, but you gave me the gift of liberation and forgiveness, and I know that Nina and Sprite are playing as ‘friends in doggie heaven’ and I am a much happier person, and am now able to know in all of my heart that making the right decison, although not always easy, is always a good one. Bless you always Mark… you and your entire family along with your pets will hold a special place in my heart along with my Nina.

Thank you for you views in so many ways– you’ll never know how much they mean to me.
Sincerely,
Your Friend–

JoAnna from FL