Hi Mark,

I love your show, I listen to you faithfully on 680 WCBM Baltimore. I loved your book, Rescuing Spirit, it brought tears to my eyes because I could truly relate. Last November I lost my beloved Toby, who was a Maine Coon cat to liver cancer at the age of 10. Liver cancer is very rare in cats and they just don’t know how to treat it. We saw all types of vets and he under went several operations. It was so hard to say good by to my gentle giant, so I planted a tree in his honor, he loved going outside with me and sniffing all my flowers and trees. I think my dog, Misty, who is a greyhound took his death very hard, they were bests friends. She didn’t eat for several days and didn’t even want to go out for her runs, she loved her kitty.

But, life can be very strange at times, three weeks after losing Toby, there were two stray kittens living in my bushes, well, I was able to rescue them and when I brought them into my home, Misty just came alive, she was so happy, doing the happy dance and wagging her tail, she couldn’t stiff them enough, she has two babies to take care of. Oh, I forgot to tell you after Misty’s racing career, which she sis very well in, she went back to the farm and over the years she had altogether 21 babies. I was told by the handlers on the farm she was a wonderful mom and she actually got to keep her babies with her longer than the other brood moms. My Misty protects her kitties and she does growl at them when they try to sample her Frosty Paws Ice Cream. Oh, I forgot to mention that my kitties are Apollo and Athena and wouldn’t you know it, Athena looks like my Toby, just not as large.

Misty is very protected of “her cats”, for example if I raise my voice at one of them, because they can get into things, naughty kitties, oh she is right there defending them. She is also a great protected, when my mom was staying with me during her illness, I would tell Misty, watch Grandma, while I go to work and she did, she wouldn’t leave my mom’s side and she would bark at anyone who came to the door. My mom is in a nursing home, she is very sick, she has PMR and it is just taking over her body, but, Misty and I go almost everyday to visit with my mom and the other residents, its amazing the joy my dog brings to the residents, sometimes it takes 10 minutes to get to my mom’s room because everyone wants to see Misty and she loves all the attention and she brings so many smilies to people, including the staff. There are some residents that have no one to visit with them, so Misty and I fill that void in their lives, its so rewarding. Animals bring so much joy to us, when I feel sad and helpless, and think about my mom and I just recently lost my dad to a massive heart attack, I look at my guys and feel so blessed. Mark, keep up the good work and I am looking forward to listening to you again, Monday, can’t come fast enough. God Bless you and your family.

Patricia from MD