We lost our Sparky on aug. 16th 2007. she was almost 13 years old, we were expecting her to leave us, but we didnt want to let go.she left us & with great pain & suffering we eventualy had no choice but to say goodbye ,until we see her again. a few month’s latter we went to rescue another animal but we didnt connect with any of the dogs there. the same day we went to a pet store & found the most beautiful dog in the world” Lucy” the bearded collie.she was only 2 month.s old when we got her,but we fell deeply in love with her. My wife took her out every morning & when i got home i took her to the dog park. every day was the same, execpt the bond we had. each day it grew stronger. one day we came home after work & we could tell something was wrong.she was weak & wasnt hungry, she didnt want to drink. What was hapining? the next day we took her to our vet. they didnt know what was wrong either. they sent us to a emergency hospital where they had to do a blood transfusion. they did that 2times. she was diagnosised with evans syndrome.after a long time of trying to get her better she just wasnt responding to any tretment. we decided we didnt want her to suffer anymore & told the doctor to end her pain. To lose your best friend after 13 years is expected, but still very sad. But to loose a beauitiful young doggie like Lucy is just unexplainable.

Paul from NY

Mark, thank you for sharing your story of Sprite. I love reading stories from fellow dog lovers about their dogs. I share my house with two german Shepherds one lab mix and one little mutt. I love them very much. Six years ago I had to put my German shepherd down because he had bloat. He was eleven and a half. It would of been to much for him to go through the operation and the recovery. I have pictures of him all over the house and think of him everyday. So, now over the past six years I have ended up with four other dogs who I have grown to love dearly, but I will never forget my Cagney. Neither will you ever forget your Spritey. The joy they bring to our lives is well worth any pain we go through with them in the end. Thanks for sharing your happiness and pain with us.

Dianna from MO

I have just finished “Rescuing Sprite” which my son gave to me. He is one of yours and Rush’s big fans. We love each other dearly and share a love of our four legged friends even though we do not share political beliefs. Our love has taught me that political differences need not affect our love for one another. I know that you and I share a love of country and a love of our best friends and that seems much more important than what may divide us. Thanks for the memories that you brought back of a life time with “best friends” who happened to be boxers.

Dick from NC

Mark, I just finished reading Sprite. Thanks for that sweet tribute to a good dog. I too have been a lifelong dog lover and owner. I’ve had to put down 2 of my beloved poodles, one at the ripe age of 16, the other at the tender age of 20 months due to a severe and rapidly moving neurological disorder that took her from a dog of whom the vert said “I don’t see anything wrong” on Friday, to a dog paralysed from the neck down and in severe pain Sunday night. We also lost a dog to theft.

Blessings to you and your family, -Rick
PS attached photo is of our current poodle Aravis, “Airee” for short.

Rick from TX

Dear Mark,

As I open your book, “Rescuing Sprite”, I am greeted with the words “Merry Christmas Tompa”, signed Deker and Checker (two cats). “We love you. 2007”.

I am Tompa – an affectionate name “affixed” to this “Geezer” of 92 years. I respond to either name, the former of which originated many years ago when my two grandchildren were learning the language. The latter came years later when my grandson, Jeremy, grew up and we became “buddies”.

Jeremy is now a 30-year-old bachelor in his own home – with good prospects of soon gaining a “Blonde Assistant” to help care for his 3 cats, 2 of which came from a shelter a few years ago, and the third, another “unwanted”, recently joining the family. As an aside, my daughter, Linda, (High School Teacher of the Year in 2006) has two cats and two horses. Additionally, she enjoys the 27 barn cats, nearly 50 ducks, dogs, goats and miniature donkeys who live at the boarding facility where she keeps her horses. My granddaughter, Lindsay and her husband, Zak, have two rescued cats as well.

Your book reminded me of our “Duchess”, whom we had to put to rest after 17 years of loving companionship. Born next door – mother a golden retriever and father unknown – Duchess had 8 brothers and sisters, mostly black and brown. However, our 45 lb. baby was white, curly and intelligent. She seemed to be born fully trained.

Our yard, no fences, in a subdivision of “young folks” (where I am the self-appointed Patriarch), without any formal training, Duchess would go no further than the sidewalk, and smile and wag her tail at passers by.

I am in the process of writing my life story – my “Journal” as I call it. The title at this moment is “Living, Dying & Return”. In the last chapter of my life story, I take my last breath in my comfortable bed in my own home, from which I embark on a journey through the “Magical Great Beyond”, bypassing the planets and the stars, and beholding my destination — beauty beyond description. My first vision of movement – like a whirling colorful dust cloud coming toward me – suddenly takes shape. Three dogs, led by my beloved Duchess, along with the two other dogs in my growing-up years, Curly and Ginger. I have a rough outline of my experience in my Heavenly Father’s domain, but I don’t mind telling you I get all choked up and teary when I even contemplate meeting my beloved furry friends in Dog Heaven.

I especially want you to know that you have two loyal fans in daughter Linda and me. You know your airtime here on WJR conflicts with my hero, O’Reilly, but from now on I’ll vow to do better. Old Rush is my idol and I catch him almost everyday. I have another “dog book” that I haven’t even touched yet – “A Good Dog”, by Jon Katz. I am on page 128 of “Sprite”, and I know I am in for more weeping and sniffling. I know that your Heavenly Father has a special niche in His heart for you – no one survives what you’ve endured without help from above.

Have a great day,

“Tompa”, the Geezer from MI

Hi Mark I am Jared and I have a story for you. My dog brandy
is 15 years old. Yes she isn’t
in good shape. She has
arthritis and hip dysplasia.
What can I do when I’m only 11.

Jared  from KS