We have Joe, age 4 (there’s no dramatic rescue story to tell), who we adopted as a puppy, for our eldest dog, Jeff. Jeff was 8 when we adopted him, after his original family took him to their vet to have him killed because they were moving (to this day, their reasoning still infuriates me). Jeff lived 4 great years with us, and passed last year from cancer.

Annabelle was found at a gas station outside of Las Vegas by my husband on his drive back from L.A. on a cold October night nearly 5 years ago. The gas station employees said she’d been there for 2 weeks (she’d been nursing, but my husband didn’t find her babies, and I don’t want to think about what had happened to them), one ear torn, and alone and starving but nobody seemed to care. My husband called me to ask if there were any shelters between his location and Las Vegas, to which I replied, “None that are open this late. Just load her up in the car and bring her to the house.”

After being quarantined in our garage and then given a vet check-up, she was allowed into our home, where she and Joe quickly became inseparable. My husband had been explicit with his instructions: “You are to take the dog, and find her a home.” Uh, huh, sure honey.

We adore our dogs, and they complete our family,
which also includes 4 cats, and at any given time, between 2 and 4 foster kittens (I foster for a goup called Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions here in Vegas).

The love of animals is God’s greatest gift!

Donielle from NV

My son worked with the husband of a dog breeder. She had a litter of Australian cattle dogs she planned to sell. When the vet did a check he found that one puppy was profoundly deaf. The breeder was going to put the puppy down for this “defect.” My son was shocked that they would kill a perfect little girl just for being deaf. (I adopted a deaf boy back in ’93.) He brought the little dog home. She is a remarkable pet. As a puppy, she used her outdoor time to “herd” all our cats into a certian tree. She can read and respond to signs and has been a member of the family for 3 years. BTW, my deaf son adopted a deaf cat. He is married now and lived in KY.

Zachi from FL

This is Aladdin. He’s spoiled rotten by his mom. Aladdin is also an elder, about 13 years of age and suffers from diabetes (Yes, he receives insulin shots – which he associates with meal time so the injections do not bother him.)

A well-traveled dog who has has criss-crossed the country twice, now lives with his owners in the retirement community of Leisure World in Laguna Woods in Southern California after spendin his first eight years in New Jersey.

He is loved by all and has provided unbound joy to our family’s life.

Richard from CA

SOOOTY WAS a 7# golden Pom.A rescue he came to live with me when he was 2. He was killed by a car last week,probably chasing a cat. He loved to do that! I thought I would would die to.I did not know what to do. I got Marks book,and quickly read it.Thank you, Mark.It reallyhelped me. I’m going to Sacramento Friday to pick up Beemer, a 2 yr old Pom.Another rescue. I will never forget Snooty. God bless you, Mark

Dewey from CA

Mark, I recently purchased and read ‘Rescuing Sprite.’ As I’m sure you’ve heard before, it made me laugh and made me cry–simple as that. Your book has also given me the confidence to write about our beloved Sherman. He was a Malamute mix, and my husband and I were fortunate to have him in our lives for 16 years. I know you will understand when I say we had a special bond, and he was a “one in a million” dog. Thank you for your wonderful book, and thank you for giving Sprite’s beautiful soul a loving home.

Kathy from NY