In the middle of 2008, my wife and I began fostering a 12 year old retired guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind, named Khaki. She was an active guide for over 9 years, but had to retire when seh started to lose her sight and was no longer able to guide her handler.

Soon after we began fostering Khaki, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. It seemd such a shame that this beautiful yellow labrador retreiver spent her entire life giving her handler a life of mobility and freedom and then was given only weeks to months to live soon after retirement. My wife and I dedicated ourselves to ensuring that Khaki would have a comfortable and rewarding end of life.

We’re happy to report that 7 months later, Khaki’s cancer is in remission. While she still suffers from a loss of sight and has eventually bouts of influenza, she continues on to live the happy life she so rightfully deserves. We love our girl!

Jeffrey from CA

I lost my childhood friend a few months ago and I still find myself crying at times. Her name was Pumpkin but called Punky more often than not. She was 16 years old. I am 22 and have had her since I was 8 years old. She was a cocker mix with poodle. My family adopted her from a kill shelter, she was on her last day there. She was black with a white stripe on her chest.

Punky would never leave my side, if I went anywhere in the house and closed the door she would beat on the door, as I would get ready for school in the bathroom she would lay against the back of my legs while I fixed my hair. I took her everywhere with me until I started dating, I even took her swimming. My parents said she would sit and stare at the front door waiting for me to return.

A few years after I moved out of my parents home she started losing weight, I thought perhaps it was her age. So I started feeding her Science Diet wet food for seniors, she put on some pounds. Then one day she started having trouble eating, so I hand fed her, she became weaker and weaker. I knew something was seriously wrong when she no longer followed me, appeared dazed and unable to stand on her own. I would reach down from my bed at night and caress her and tell her everything will be alright, that I would help her.
When I took her to the vet I was not expecting to have to put her to sleep…I guess in my mind I thought she would live indefinitely. I bundled her in a towel and held her in my arms all the way there. Her breathing was shallow, and her body slightly limp, she gazed up at me as we waited in the vet office. They took a test, we waited ,while we waited I said I would pawn or sell my the cello that I’ve had since I was a kid to do whatever it took. They came back and told us she had the highest level of kidney failure they had ever seen and that there was no coming back from it…we had to put her to sleep.

As they were administering the shot she put her head in my hand and leaned into me…I couldn’t handle it and broke down. It may sound odd and pathetic but sometimes I think about leaving this town that I grew up in because everywhere I go I remember moments I had with her, it still seems so unreal. I cry about her at the drop of the hat and wonder when will that pass?

Erica from KS

I have the most loving and sweet boy named Henry James. He is three years old and a cockapoo and hasn’t a mean bone in his entire body. Henry James has ataxia, something that is common (I didn’t know until now) in standard poodles. He walks around like a drunk person and falls a lot. I carry him up and down steps and help him to eat and keep him safe from harm. I don’t anyone who has had a dog with this problem …I just know that it’s getting worse and I don’t knowwhen or how I will know ….you know…it’s time. I just cannot bear the thought of taking this most precious and sweetheart of a boy doggie into the vet where he will greet everyone with a wagging tail and kisses and put him down. He’s only 3 years old! He is loves everyone and is friends with everyone in the neighborhood…they all know him quite well. Some people tell me that he’s “only a dog”…but he’s more than that to me…he’s my silly precious Henry James. I was supposed to take him to the vet today, but I was afraid that they’d want to put him down today and I knew I couldn’t bear that…today being the third anniversary of my husband’s passing. Too much…..This is tough,
anyone know what to do? Thanks much.

Jan from MI

I bought a copy of Rescuing Sprite at a little book store here in Oak Harbor. At the time, I was looking for a gift for our next door neighbor.
My wife and I are very good friends with our neighbors and our dogs are best friends who play together almost daily. We watch their dog when they’re away and they do the same for us. I retired from the U.S. Navy in 2005 after 22 years. I never had a dog while I was in the Navy, but missed having one since I was a kid. When I was fifteen my dog Eddie, my best friend at the time, passed away…I was devistated. One of the first things I did when I retired from the Navy was rescue a dog. Her name is Rosie, she is five years old and she is wonderful. She is my absolute best pal that I spoil. We have adopted another dog, Buddah, who is twelve years old. My wife and I plan our lives around our dogs and wouldn’t have it any other way. When I come home from work they are always glad to see me and cheer me up no matter how stressfull a day I’ve had. Rescuing Sprite described exactly the way I feel about our dogs and since Buddah is twelve and getting on in years, I have to wonder why I was drawn to that little book store and your book was the first book I looked at and bought. It brought back many memories and helped me reflect on how lucky I am to share my pals lives with them…they give me far more than I give them. It’s never easy loosing your best pal, but the life shared is worth the grief. I believe dogs help us cope and prepare us for things we may not understand at the time. Great book, it described exactly how I feel. I will keep as reference when I need it. Thank-you.

Troy from WA