Mark,

I haven’t read Rescuing Sprite…yet.  I just know I’ll have tears running down my face.  We had a little mixed breed (way mixed) dog that touched our family deeply and I would like to tell a little about her.

Take care.

Honey was a favorite of mine and my husband and we miss her everyday.  One day I was out shopping and thought that I would stop at a local flea market just to look around.  I never went in the store because in the parking lot close to the door was a wire cage with puppies inside that someone brought up there to give away.  There was about six or seven inside just jumping around and trying to get my attention, they all broke my heart, but what did catch my attention was the puppy sitting in the corner by itself.  She was the tiniest thing.  When she was sitting down she probably measured six inches from the floor to the top of her head.  She was looking at me but giving out a little growl also.  I had to take her home.  I reached inside to pick her up and she nipped me on the thumb.  My plans didn’t change; I was still taking her home.  I held her, petted her and told her that everything would be o.k.  She lay close to my neck and I could feel her relax.  I knew that she was not afraid anymore.  I did not want to think of what she had been through before being put in that cage.  I went back to my car and she lay down in my lap and did not move from there the entire drive home.  I knew she needed care right away.  She was so thin and literally covered with fleas (I guess flea market is an apt name).  She was one of the ugliest beautiful little pups that I have ever seen.  She had blondish medium length hair that that could only be described as permanent bed head.  When I took her inside the house my husband said “what’s that?”  I’m thinking that truer words had never been spoken.  I set her down and she promptly went to the corner of the room and stayed there. (more…)

Dear Mark,
We are dog lovers and animal lovers. We currently have 4 dogs, all of them have some pitbull in them. We got our Boo three yrs ago in a Walmart parking lot for $20 on Xmas Eve-a woman was selling a litter. She is pit mixed with something and she is our baby. I picked up a full blood pitbull female that someone had dropped off at my work one yr age and she has a home forever with us. She is soooo sweet! We have an older femal pit and a pit mix with greyhound-both are our sons. Anyway, they bring us so much happiness-they and all of our other animals. We had to put down our sweet shepard mix, Jenna, and she is buried out back and is still guarding the livestock that she loved so much.
God Bless you, Mark
God Bless America
Pray for McCain/Palin

Karen from AZ

Hey Mark, crew & fans:

My family is the classic all-American family with two working parents– one in sales the other in advertising and marketing– with a bouncing baby 17-month old who is destined to be a player on the NY Giants judging by his size. Mom, Jennifer, is fortunate enough to be in sales for an All-American soft drink company and be with our son in-home along with her mom who helps care for baby Justin. We fly our American flag proudly and post our McCain/Palin banner in our front yard to show our support. (It’s funny to hear the honks and “yeah!” as I mow the lawn. It requires extra hard work and sacrifices to live on beautiful Long Island, NY.

With 2 terrific Pugs already in the house, named Capone & Carmella– and two Maine Coon cats (Dante and Max), my wife urged us to get a rescued Bull Dog. Yeah. New to me, too. We all know “Greyhound Rescue,” but I never heard of “Bulldog Rescue.” A link is here: http://www.rescuebulldogs.org/ Apparently, there are a multitude of rescue organizations for all types of breeds. You may need to search online to find others. They make a great complement to shelters. Dogs end up in foster homes temporarily until new homes can be found. Dogs are available in all ages, shapes, sizes, etc. (more…)

We adopted Ambrose from the shelter 2 months ago. Other than being the perfect dog he has changed life so much for the better. Since Robert has never had a great dog this is changing his heart everyday and i get to watch this beautiful transition that only that great love can do.

Sue & Robert from CA

Hi Mark, I just finished your book and it was very touching.  I have 3 dogs of my own now (beagles!…they are so sweet) and am currently fostering another dog. They are so wonderful and each fulfills my life in different ways.

The only dog I\’ve had to put to sleep in my adulthood was my first beagle, Skyler.  I\’d had her since she was only 8 weeks old and she lived to almost 15 years. As she got up in years, I tried to prepare myself for the inevitable, but in my mind, I always hoped she would pass quietly in her sleep. I just couldn\’t imagine putting her down when she could still wag her tail at me. Well, it was as if Skyler knew what I needed.

I had decided to take a short 2 day trip to see my brother in Kansas City. Skyler and Max (my adopted beagle who I still have) had automatic feeders, a doggie door and a great neighbor who would check on them. They gave me happy tail wags and kisses when I left. Upon my return, Skyler did not greet me at the door. I found her laying in the living room…her eyes open, she was breathing, but completely nonresponsive. I rushed her to the vet where they took x-rays and found a large mass in her abdomen. My vet told me we could operate and see what we\’re dealing with, but with her age and the suspicion it was more than likely a tumor, we probably wouldn\’t be giving her much quality of life. Skyler could not wag her tail at me…she didn’t even know I was there…it made my decision easier. (more…)