Well, my story is not as life saving as others may be, but to me, it was! I had lost my kids by them moving out of State and one out of Country and was very very lonely, especially after my Cat died. Also, for various reasons my friends were shall we say, self serving and just faded away. I saw Tootsie, my Bernese Mtn. dog pup in the Pet Store one evening and found love at first sight, she has been my best pal and a Godsend to me and my Husband. Here’s her wonderful photo.. .thanks Mark for all you do, you do, you are the best!

Sue from CA

Dear Mark, I have tried hundreds of times to reach you on the telephone to tell you how much your book meant to us. We are a dog family. We had three cavaliers; one of them was disabled…had seizures. He was recently hit by a car in spite of all of our precautions, fences, dog pens, leashes… He was a runner. I applied to rescue and got another disabled Cavalier…blind and a little lame as the result of mistreatment by a back yard breeder. He is adjusting wonderfully, helping us with our loss, and learning to enjoy being loved. Thank you for all that you do.

Mary from CA

Hello Mark,
Two springs ago we lost our dog Shasta (root beer name) after 18 great years. What a sweet, gentle girl she was. She loved it when the kids crawled all over her dog house, she loved getting buried in leaf piles in the fall. We got her from a fellow at work, she was sort of an unplanned life, but she sure fit into ours. She was totally healthy her whole life, one evening after her walk, she stumbled on the stair. I didn’t think much about it since she got right up and continued on. Next morning I found her passed away laying at her doghouse condo. That was the day of my daughter’s friend’s Bat Mitzva, I tried to have a good time. Then I buried her. About a month later, C.C., our old, about 17, cat died. He had a broken leg in a cast from a mishap and he was going blind. My lasting memory of him was my daughter and I chasing after him as he hobbled and wobbled down towards the woods, we knew he would not find his way back. He died peacefully on his electric heating pad. As if this was not enough, about another month passed and we said goodbye to Kitty Bag, she was born in 1989. The runt of the litter. After many years, she ended up having 2 or 3 teeth left, many were removed by the vet, the gummed her food for a long time. Her kidneys finally failed, we had been giving her the fluids via needle and bag under her skin for several months. It only prolonged her life, she was just a shell of her former self. Like God is watching out for us, a new stray cat, Pokey, has come out of the woods and into our lives. (more…)

Dear Mr. Levin:
Your book Rescuing Sprite came very highly recommended to me by someone who knew about the loss of my dog \”Bubba\” who would have been 15yrs old on Oct. 16, 2008.  I had to have Bubba put to slept this past Mon. Sept.29,08.  I was having such a hard time and still am, so she suggested that I read your story.  I stopped yesterday at Border\’s books and bought a copy and read it completely last night.  I cried and I smiled.  I too am a dog lover and Bubba was my best friend.  I got him as a Christmas gift for my youngest son when he was around 11yrs old.  Although it was my sons dog, he and I became close companions.  He has been with me through a devastating divorce of my sons father and through the death of my father and several surgeries that I myself have had.  Bubba was always there to greet me at the door when I came home from work and never left my side when I was really down and out emotionally.  Last Friday my friend got to the point of not eating or drinking.  Just laid beside of my bed, I had to help him outside and sometimes even had to carry him which was a chore.  See Bubba was about 85lbs, a mix of Black Lab, Husky and Cocker Spaniel.  He looked like a golden retreiver.  He was just a beautiful dog and friend.  I almost lost him about 2 yrs.. ago when he got really sick, but the vets at Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital brought him back on several medications.  The vet did tell me that he was getting very old and having several issues that I soon would have to make the decision of putting him down.  (more…)

Today is the day I put to rest my beloved dog, Brandy. Brandy was an old boy, who gave me 15 years of love and loyalty and asked for nothing back in return.

At 11:30am this morning, as the needle was inserted into his frail little leg, Brandy looked through my eyes, deep into my soul and asked the question \”why? Why are you doing this to me?\” a few seconds later he was gone forever and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Reading this book has given me some comfort and I have promised myself not to feel quilty over ending his life. It has also inspired me, in time,   tofind another Brandy to look after and love as much as my heart can give.

Thank you

Sleep tight stupid dogbot! I love you so much puppy love. xo

Cathy from England