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Listener Stories

Shadow, Kelly

Mark,
I have not read you book yet. But I was listening to your show when you went into such great detail of your story. This is the story of Shadow. I loved him more then I have loved anything except my wife and children. I got him when he was just a few months old and he was a full Schipperke. It was so fun, with such a great personality. When a car hit me on my motorcycle and many surgeries over the years, Shadow would always come and either lay at my feet or beside the bed. Looking and watching everyone that come in for the full recovery time. I miss him so much even today and it will be a year next week. I set here so broke up just writing this. For 19 wonderful years he was the true meaning of my “best friend”. He was always so protective of the kids, they would pull and ride and he would just go along with anything they wanted to do. But when a stranger would come close to any family member or the house he became your worst nightmare. He had a unbelievable art of telling who was family and who was not, even members that did not come by often.  We had got Kelly a mix to give him company when my kids grown and we started working same shifts on some days.  The go along so great. In the end years Shadow would have spasms and Kelly would run into were ever we were backing and yelping wanting us to follow and we would cuddle and stroke Shadow till it passed. She became the Mother Hen. He took care of her when she was a pup and now she was helping him.  Here they are watching the snowfall, they both would just love to set and look out the door together.  I miss him so much..

Ben from OH

My Dogs

Just love DOGS! First time to Mark’s site and saw this forum. I am not a “joiner” but couldn’t pass up reading about dogs. I believe in my 60 yrs. of life I have enjoyed almost all breeds as pets or pets of friends. Currently I have a Bearded Collie and a Chihuahua. I know that isn’t spelled right but it’s 3am and brain still has some fog, That’s my story and I’m stickin to it Go Pallin!
Linda from TN

Sophie

I listen to Mark everyday.I cried when he spoke of his dog Sprite.
Today I want to tell you about my dog Sophie.My husband was working out of town and wanted to get a dog so that I could have a little more peace of mind when he was gone.We saw an ad in the paper for German Shepherd puppies and went to see them.The person let all the puppies out so that we could look at them all,and they all went running around the yard except for one.She came up to us and started licking our legs and chewing our shoelaces .We both knew then that this was the pup we would take home
It has been 12 years and yesterday I lost that dog that had become the best friend you could have.Her name was Sophie,and she never became that guard dog my husband thought he was buying .She was the biggest,kindest,gentless dog you could imagine and her heart was just as big as she was.There wasn’t a person she didn’t like,but the children,oh she loved them.Running in the sprinklers,chasing the soccer ball.She loved it.
Yesterday morning Sophie played in the yard with my husband came in and hung out with me and 30 minutes later crawled on my bed and went to sleep for the las time.I miss her so much but I just owed it to her to share her a little bit so everyone could know what a wonderful dog she was.
Karen from NC

Lucy and Millie

Just finished “Rescuing Sprite”.I am touched and will not sleep tonight.I am sorry for your loss.I had to go through the same situation in 1993,never dreamed I would have another dog. But, we rescued two dogs from the local Human Shelter in 1996 on a whim.Now Lucy and Millie(litter mates) are gitting up in years and having health problems. I often think about their demise.It hurts.
Tom from IN

Patriot’s Best Friend

Thought you might like this military dog, Mark.

Charles from NJ

Honey

Its a sad day in our household. We had to put our beloved Honey down due to cancer. She had a tough beginning. My wife got her from a shelter. She was with minutes of being put down when she claimed her. she had numerous welts form some jeck abusing her. We guess she was six or seven months old when we got her. That was fourteen years ago. I work 2nd shift so I don’t get home until midnight. For fourteen years she was the one who always greeted me. She don’t jumb on me like allot of dogs but made it known she was glad to see me. When we got a 2nd dog. that we had found wondering the streets. She welcome her without a problem and become the younger dog’s role model. I can’t begin to say how much I’m going to miss her greeting when I go back to work. She was a great dog. I will rememger fondly for the rest of my life
Charles from FL