I have to admit that before this week, I had never heard of Mark Levin. We had a huge ice storm here in Ohio last week that knocked out power to over 70,000 people. I am a teacher and school was cancelled. I decided to head out to the store and find something to do (and keep warm). I got my daughter a coloring book and decided to get a book for myself. The last book I read was Marley and Me. It too is about a dog and I was still in the mood for a feel good book like that one. Rescuing Sprite caught my eye. There was something about that face on the cover that made me want to buy it and read it. It took me almost 2 days and a box of tissues to get through it.
I have always had a dog. We got our beagle, Mickie, before I was born. According to my parents she was quite the pain but I don’t remember that at all. I loved her. She was hit by a car one night when I was in the 6th grade. I was devastated. My other childhood dog, Jet looked a lot like Pepsi. She was part irish setter part black lab. She was a black irish setter. She was the sweetest thing. She was the favorite. One day when I was 14. I let her outside before school. She didn’t come back. I went out looking and calling. She NEVER did that. I found her lying near the road and thought she had been hit by a car. My dad stayed home and took her to the vet and all day while at school I worried. When I got home I found out she hadn’t got hit but that something had happened to her hips. They had put her down. It was a very sad day. I didn’t understand how they couldn’t fix her. I didn’t understand how a person could in a sense kill a dog. I begged for a new dog and eventually got a cocker spaniel named Lacey. She died in 2003 of a brain tumor. I had moved out and got married years earlier and was 8 months pregnant when she died. She was my sweetheart. My pride and joy. But it didn’t hit me as hard as I thought. I wasn’t as connected as I used to be. Still, she was a wonderful dog. So sweet. I currently have a 7 year old Cocker and a 2 year old beagle. Sprite reminded me of my cocker. I hope Abby lives at least 7 more years. I hope I don’t have to go through what you did. But I know I will outlive her. And I will outlive my beagle. Eventually we all must go through someone’s death. Sorry for your loss. How great though, the time you had with him. I’m sure you wouldn’t trade that to have not gone through the pain.

Kara from OH