Maximilian of Bealshire, better known as Max, was my friend, my companion, my loyal supporter and protector. Shortly after I left the house one day, he bolted out the door when a visitor came in. Max attempted to track me, was hit by a car, then hit by another car, and still managed to stagger up the driveway via a swamp, where my daughter was running towards him after a neighbor called her (we live 1/5 mile from the road and trees block our view of it). She took him to the vet but he died on the way. When I got to the vet’s, they were closed. I cried my heart out for an hour before going back home. The next day, we went to get him, buried him and then I placed a white border fence around his grave with some silk flowers and a marker made of a tree slice which I wood burned and marine varnished. I would visit his grave every day and noticed something unfamiliar was growing only inside the fence. It turned out to be a flurrie of tall blue flowers – Forget-Me-Nots. He was only 5 years old. That was in 1995 and I still get choked up when I think of him. I was a walking zombie for 6+ months after he died and to this day, I “forgot him not”.

Ann from ME

Mark, I just finished reading about Sprite. I thought you might like to read about the Rainbow Bridge:
Just the side of Heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.
When a pet dies that was especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and they are warm and comfortable. All the pets that were ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The pets are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying hi faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend meet, you cling together in joyful reunion, never to be parted again.The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hand once again caress his beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of you pet, so long gone from you life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

This helped me cope with the loss of our dogs, Dusti and Bo. God created dogs for a special reason and you and you family know what tha treason is, as do all dog lovers.

As the saying goes ” if there ain’t dogs, it ain’t Heaven”,

God bless you and your family!

Mike from CA

Last night, I finished reading \’Rescuing Sprite\’. Keep in mind, I have A.D.D. I dont read much, but when I do , it has to be something that really grabs my attention. I just had to euthenize my 15 1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrior, Stella. I was traumatized as a teenager when I got home from school one day, to find out that my father had given my dog away to a stranger. Now an adult, I layed eyes on this cute little pup I named Stella, brought her home, and treated her like the princess she was. We were inseperable, still attached to imbillical cord. From the start, a women in a shop tried to steal her out of my hands. From then on, it was a relationship that even the jaws of life couldn\’t seperate us. I was the overprotective parent. Constantly doding over her and gladly.

Your book made me happy and sad at the same time. The hardest part was the end, of course, when you were having to decide the ultimate end for your pet. Im really having a hard time about now, since Mothers Day, which is when \’it\’ happened for my little girl. It\’s now hitting me that she\’ll never return. I realize all the good stuff, about cherishing the good memories and realizing that I gave her the best life possible. I spent $5600 in one week for her at the emergency towards the end, when she was diagnosed with \’Pancreatitis\’. I beat myself up for giving her her final meal, which, not like me, I gave her a large chunk of steak fat. She inhaled it. One thing I could always bank on was that this girl could eat. Well…the docs have assured me that she must have had other issues going on..and that my final \’fat\’ wasn\’t the nail on her coffin. Well..I do have to say..I dont buy it. I live with the guilt that I may have very well done her in. Yes, she was old. Yes, she had bad cataracts. Yes, she was deaf. But did she continue to have a zest to live? Yes. This is what I have a hard time with. (more…)

I went to the Orange county Library to get your book to read.
I was put on a waiting list.
I am still waiting.
I was however directed to Spritey. Rescuing Sprite…
I am in tears right now, your book moved me to so many feelings and how many lives that dog touched… Like your son and daughter and your wife and you.
I believe that is real!
I sure know 1 think you are for real. I told Sean Hannity that I have the same values you have.
MY Family is the only thing I have. I have my 2 Pomeranians named Taz, approprately,l and Jasmine
I named them after the Cartoon WB characters.

Donald from FL

Dear Mark,today is a very sad day for us,yesterday we had to put our beautiful sheppard,candy,to sleep.Six weeks ago she was diaganosed with lymphoma.We did everything possible.We are heartbroken.Thanks,

Matt from CT