Jack Bauer was my beautiful german shepherd dog that became my pet in 2006 as a puppy of 3 months old.   My husband and I own a local bar and grill which requires long hours away from home.  It would not matter how late I would come home at night, Jack would be waiting by the door to greet me.  We would spend time together before bedtime, sometimes taking a walk, or playing in the yard or just relaxing on the couch catching up with the day\’s events on the late night news (Fox news only).

One day I noticed my guy was not exactly himself.  Mostly he just would not be as energetic as normal, but then it started to become more serious where he wouldn\’t want to walk and would just lay around.  I took him to be checked out.  He had acquired some worms (we live in a wooded area with lots of critter poop that apparently my guy liked to munch on) which in itself is not serious with a good dewormer.  But unbeknownst to us, he also had a blood disorder (lupus)which would not allow him to fight the infection.  Actually his antibodies killed off the worms, but then went haywire and started eating up good cells and tissue.  The vet was unable to stop the carnage.

After four days in the hospital without any progress, I brought Jack home hoping to spend some time with him before he would not be able to sustain life any longer.  This was only one night and the next day it was obvious he was going downhill fast, and not wanting him to suffer, we brought him back to the hospital where his vet came out to the car and quickly helped him out of his pain.

Mark, this dog never did anything but good things to mankind.  He did not live to celebrate his third birthday, and for that this world has been deprived of a truly wonderful soul.  It is with tears streaming down my face that I am writing this and my prayer is Jack is running and playing in heaven while smiling down on me.  Knowing that one day we will be together makes life bearable.  I am sorry for your loss.  I read your book when it first came out and it wasn\’t until last week that I truly felt your pain.  God Bless you and everything you do, and someday I\’ll introduce you to Jack and maybe I can meet Sprite.

Elizabeth from IL

Both he and his brother, Rascal, were left to die with their mother and three brothers and sisters at a boat dock in Campbell County, Tennessee. They were the only two puppies that were alive when I found them at an RV site, half-starved, covered in fleas, tickets, and lice. They weren’t even weaned, trying to nurse on their mother’s decomposing corpse. I took the two brothers home, called a vet, and left them with the vet for treatment while I went back and buried the others. When I went back to the vet to pick them up, he said they would more than likely die from malnutrition, and recommended putting them down so they would not suffer. I refused, and took them home, praying that God would find a way for me to keep them alive.

I abandoned my graduate studies, missing two weeks of classes to care for these puppies day and night. They refused to give up, and after the dewormer kicked in, they started to gain weight. I cried for them, I prayed for them, I held them, and loved them. Within two short weeks, they had gained weight, and the vet said it was nothing short of a miracle that they lived, and that they were doing so well.

I waited for three months for the owner of RV lot where I found these dogs to come back. Turns out they were illegals who worked for the dock. I told them how sick they were, and that their cruelty would come back to haunt them. Can you believe they asked for the puppies back, and threatened to sue me if I didn’t!?! Once I explained that I had pictures of the dogs at their worst, and that I would not hesitate to contact the DA about animal cruelty, they dropped their stupidity, and told me they hoped those stupid dogs died. I can’t tell you here what I told them in response. (more…)

The K9 above is Brutus, a military K9 at McChord. He\’s huge – part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff and tops the scales at 200 lbs. His handler took the picture. Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he\’s slobbering away! I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn\’t stop, but he did. Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq. His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant \’go away but come back and find me\’. The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door. He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an old warehouse) until it opened. He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He\’s the first K9 to receive this honor. If he knows you\’re ok, he\’s a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap. Enjoys the company of cats.
?K-9 Congressional Medal of Honor Winner
?Thought you\’d find this interesting. Talk about animal intelligence and bonding with humans! (more…)

I have a Bassett named Tripper Jack. We have had him for 5 years, since he was 6 weeks old. I found out today he may have a brain tumor. We have some decisions to make in the next few weeks and it is very difficult. Thank you for your book Rescuing Sprite. I have read it and it has helped tremendously. I listen to you everyday as I drive home from work and I want to say thank you for the information you give and for supporting our troops. Thanks for “Rescuing Sprite” and may God bless you. Keep up the good work.

Betty from TX

Dear Mark,

My family and I own a 12 year old mix named Lexi.  She has been such a blessing in our lives.  When I first moved to Florida, I knew no one and was extremely homesick.  I found Lexi, a puppy then, at a school where I was teaching.  I brought her home and she quickly became a part of the family.  She helped me through some pretty tough times.  Lexi has been very sick recently with kidney failure and a rare muscle disease.  We have been doing everything in our power to care for her illness and keep her comfortable.  We realize she doesn\’t have much time and we have all agreed that we will not let her suffer.  I picked up your book, Rescuing Sprite, and read it all in one sitting.

Although I cried all the way through it,  I am so glad I read it.  It has helped me to see this experience in a different light.  I\’ve realized that we\’ve given Lexi all the love we could and she has done the same for us.  I\’ll always cherish the time I\’ve had with her and never ever forget the joy she has brought to my family.  I\’m not going to lie, it\’s going to be tough when the time comes.  We\’re really going to be hurting, but  we\’ve decided as a family that we\’ll always have a dog.  I can\’t imagine my life without one.  There are so many amazing animals that need love and someone to care for them.  After the greater part of the pain subsides(it will never completely go away, as you know), we\’ll open our hearts up all over again!
Thanks for your inspirational book.

Angela from FL