Mark, I love your show. I have a beautiful four year old female black lab and she is great. She is sixty pounds, in great shape and extremely friendly. If she attacked, she would lick you to death. She barks very infrequently. Tonight she wanted to go for a walk during your show so I got the portable radio and put the headphone in one ear and out we went. It was cool, crisp, breezy and dark. We got about half way into our walk when she alerted on something and she got into her protective stance, erect, ears listening, nose twitching. She does that whenever she sees a cat! I saw something on my neighbor’s yard; it was dark, and a little shiny. The wind blew and the thing flapped in the breeze and Sadie started that protective bark, chest out full and the sound coming from deep down; wooof, wooof, wooof. I told her to settle down, but she didn’t and trying to protect me, she charged, barking all the way. She is very strong and pulled me. Now I’m yelling at her, but she could care less. Well wouldn’t you know, when we got there, the ‘thing’ was an Obama sign the neighbor had put in their front yard! Well there was nothing else for me to do except praise her profusely and give her a treat! Good girl Sadie. And now you know why Sadie is my best friend! Please withhold my name as I live in the People’s Republic of Princeton. I hope you like this true story…it happened just after you were talking about Elmer Fudd Frank, the boozo, tonight.Thanks for all you do Mark! All the best.

Anonymous from NJ

Mark is so wonderful for creating this forum for dog lovers.  Rescuing Sprite is such a special book. My breed is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (you can visit me on my blog at www.christmascorgi.blogspot.com) Having been involved in Corgi rescue, I can tell you that as soon as these little abandoned dogs learn to trust again and realize they are loved, they return that love and are loyal friends for life. You only need to look into their eyes and know it is true. I offer my little \’Light A Candle\’ image here to honor those little angel dogs who are certainly watching over us from above and to let those who grieve for their beloved friend know they are not alone. Warmly,

Cathy from NY ^..^

Here is a pic of our 9 year old Pug, Ruby, and her new little brother, beagle Alfie.
Alfie was abandoned at 6 weeks old and was rescued by a police officer. I was originally contacted to foster Alfie (coincidentally, his first fosters called him Ralphie! I named him Alfie on the way to pick him up without knowing this) but of course, we fell in love and kept him. Ruby and Alfie and Fletch the Himalayan kitty are all working on a beautiful friendship. Unfortunately, that may be a long time coming, but they\’re trying!

Marcia from PA

Today is Oct 21, 2008 and I just read your book about your Sprite. I received the book for Christmas 2007 and haven\’t had a chance to read it because of personal and professional obligations. Since I broke my foot on Sat I had a chance to read the book. My husband bought me the book for Christmas because he knows how much I miss my Hannah. She was 11 when we had to put her to sleep in 2006. I brought her home October 31st in 1995. That year was one of the worst years of my life.

We have had many dogs in our lives between my husband and myself and I was putting off getting another dog. We had just put our beagle to sleep the year before. In 1995, I was fired from my job which I had for 20 years. I was reported to the state board of professional licensure and became a zomby. In September of 1995 my Hannah was born but I didn\’t know it yet. I had finally found a job again after 5 months of looking(July) and my husband was hounding me to get a Rottweiler. Hannah would be our third Rottweiler. Our first one died a horrible death to Lupus when she was two. She died in my arms. The second was a little nuts and we gave her to a couple without children because we were expecting a baby and didn\’t know how she would react with a new baby. Our original intention was getting a Rottweiler for protection since we had a few neighborhood incidences that caused our windows to be broken and other problems. We didn\’t know what a great dog the Rottweiler is. We had Siberian Huskies, a Beagle, German Shephard, Poodle and now we have a Britney Spaniel. My heart though remains with Hannah. I have Hannah reminders everwhere.
My heart goes out to you. I too want to write a book. I miss her to this day.

Janet from NY

Hi Mark,
I just read your book Rescuing Sprite.  I could not put it down once I picked it up. I am a dog lover also.  It was a beautiful book as was Sprite and as is Pepsi and now Griffen. It was a very emotional and tearful story about Sprite.  My youngest of four sons left for college this fall and I miss him terribly, but in August, shortly before we took our son Art to college, I retired from my job, because I did not want to leave my dog, my best friend, Emma, (she is a liver and white , mostley white, beautiful springer spaniel) home alone every day of the week.

It is funny, because I look up to Emma as much as she looks up to me.  She is my shadow and my protector during the day while I am home alone until my husband comes home from work.  Everyday she and I take our long walk around our property, unleashed, and she has some favorite sniffs that she always goes to but then finds something new and exciting.  All the while she is running around, in close distance, while smelling every scent she can , she constantly looks back to see where I am, making sure that I am safe.  She is my best friend and is 6 yrs old.  I cannot even bear the thought of losing her someday.  I am sorry Sprite was with you only a short two years, but what a wonderful two years it was!  I look forward to another story hopefully someday about Pepsi and Griffen, and their adventures!
Thank you, from another dog lover,

Linda from WI