Thank you so much for having this site to write about our dogs. My dog recently died and my broken heart is still fresh.

Piezon
Dec 4, 1997 – June 9, 2009

About the Journey

He changed my life. Now, for the first time in eleven and a half years, I feel completely and utterly alone. No matter what was going on in my life, no matter how low or how high I felt, I was never alone, nor was I lonely. I had Piezon.

He inspired me to write a poem titled Chasing Rainbows. It was one of my many writings he inspired. It was a story about a woman who got taught a lesson from her dog. He taught her that she was empty and depressed in life because she based her happiness on the destination. He showed her that life is really all about the journey. When you finish one journey, you start another. Take a rest in between first, but go for the next one with gusto.

Simple daily activities became an adventure for him. I’d say he saw the world through neutral eyes, but he appeared to experience all of life as good. We humans might smile at the sweet aroma of fresh cut grass, while we’d wither away in disgust at the scent of dog crap. Piezon sniffed both without judgment. Sniffing the sprinkle of the loose cut grass, yup, smells like grass. Sniffing a dried up pile of dog crap, yup, smells like dog crap. He’d go on his way. Neither affects him in any way but to enjoy the heck out of being able to use his acute sense of smell. Not only was it about the journey, but the gratitude to have the ability to smell.

One time I told my dad I was afraid to walk Piezon because the news reported a cougar loose in the neighborhood. Dad reminded me, “Knowing Piezon, he’d makes friends with it.” This is a great illustration about how he was everyone’s Piezon. Meaning in Italian, he was everyone’s friend (Paesano). He even made friends with the squirrels, and Florida lizards too. He wasn’t afraid of anything. Not thunder or fireworks either. It wasn’t like he acted tough and was willing to fight something threatening. He just saw all things as loving and loved them back, no matter if they were threatening or not. And he was always willing to go with the flow, no matter what the situation, because it was all about the journey.

Every day when we woke up in the morning felt like our first morning with a new puppy. I was just as excited and happy to see him as he was to see me. It never got old, and I never felt inconvenienced or burdened by taking care of him. Not once. This is not to say that he didn’t test my patience on occasion, but that’s different. And I never could lose my patience for long. His sweet, warm, brown eyes easily brought a joyful lift to my mood.

I’d say he was spoiled, but not an unhealthy spoiled. He was well disciplined, and therefore a well-behaved dog. Even with kidney issues in the end, he never messed in the house. He always obeyed commands and never harmed anything in our house. He loved people. He loved all of you. Not sure how much that is saying, since his tennis ball was his number one love.

Honestly, there was no way to stay in a sad or a bad mood around him. Being someone whose emotions run high, around Piezon somehow I was able to balance them off. He showed me that he was balanced when I was balanced.

My sweet, beloved Piezon. Thank you for all the joy you brought into my life that I never would’ve known without you. I carry you in my heart forever.

Lori from FL

But what I wanted to say is this; I have never read a book like the one Mark wrote about “Spritey”. It describes in detail exactly how I felt (& feel) about parting with Abby & having to make the decision to part with Abby. She too, took in the breeze on her last day & her ears would never perk, but they always blew in the wind. Thank you Mark for helping me with this book. It made me feel not alone, not crazy, & not obsessed. Well, maybe I am obsessed but proud of it. I have always loved dogs & with your insight, it is helping me go on at a time where I think of her every new season. Spritey was special.

Allison from PA

I read a email from our area Shelter that had a sick Terrier that needed to see Vet. I drove over to get the little Terrier but someone else had gotten there sooner and took him to Vet and adopted him. Just as I was about to leave the Shelter the man in charge told me about a Shih Tsu that had been brought in that morning and was not happy due to all the commotion and also the heat. I went over to look at her and it was love at first sight! After I paid and signed the adiption papers she bounded out the building, on leash of course, straight for my car. She is a grey and white Shih Tsu and only has one eye. But she is beautiful! So affectionate, so adorable. She never leaves my sight and even though I bought a pretty pink bed for her, she sleeps right with me. My life now has more happiness in it. She makes my day. My husband loves her to death too but she prefers me. Besides, he has two Labs and a rescued mix breed. I thank my Lord every night for being blessed with Corkie. Words really cannot say what I feel for her.

Billye from LA

I have a Mastiff named Zeuse who had major surgery to repair a leak in his thorax almost two years ago but we were told he had cancer and would be dead in three weeks and not to prolong it so of course we got a second opinion from The University of Fl in Gainsville they operated and found no cancer any where but found the leak and repaired a few smaller ones he will be on two water pills everyday for the rest of his life but by prayer and wonderful doctors I have him today.Well now I need alot of prayers again for him he will have to have his right rear leg amputated because my vet found cancer in his bone and he is in lot of pain so he is on pain medication till thusday this is the only option we have to stop it in its tracks I’m still praying we have made the right decision.He has a wonderful spirit and is so loving after all he has been thru and I know in my heart he will come thru this.I’am a firm believer in GOD and that is who I put my faith in and whatever happens I will be okay with it we just want to give Zeuse a chance.Thank you for letting me share with all of you.GOD BLESS

Jean from FL

Mark,
My girlfriend and I came to meet you at Book Revue in Huntington, NY when RS came out. Just yesterday we had to put my best buddy Harry to sleep. It was an awful weekend. He was battling prostate cancer but by the time we humans are able to tell something is wrong it is too often just too late. The sadness and sense of emptiness is incredibly painful. I picked up Rescuing Sprite again and re-reading parts of it has offered me some solace as I try to cope with losing such an amazing friend. Thank you.

Jim from NY

Mark, I read your book a couple of weeks ago. So touching and sad and sweet all at the same time. When we had one of our cats put down (one of the hardest days of my life) and the vet and his assistant came to the door – our vet still comes to the house, thank goodness – my cat Shadow came right out to greet them. What is so extraordinary about that is that Shadow was a very scared cat and hid from everyone except me. She knew! Just like Sprite. That helped me through it. I appreciate you writing your story. Just to know that there are other devoted animal lovers who are just as coocoo for their pets as I am is pretty cool. THANKS!

Toni from WI