When I was, years ago, in deep despair and suicidal, a counselor suggested that perhaps a pet would be of help. He stated that having to take care of it would require me to focus on the pet’s care and would decrease my genuflecting on the negative themes surrounding my life. He was right. I got Layla, a Great Pyreenes, five years ago, and she essentially, saved my life.

She also, with her 120 lbs of protectiveness, prevented a burglar from entering my car and guest house on my property in Phoenix two years ago.

She has been a irreplaceable friend and companion and she always cheers me up when I am down.

She is truly “man’s best friend”

Alan from WA

I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR BOOK RESCUING SPRITE, I HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR 2 DAYS NOW. ONLY ANOTHER DOG LOVER WOULD UNDERSTAND. MAKING THE DECISION TO PUT YOUR PET TO SLEEP IS THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE. I CAN STILL SEE OUR MYRTLE’S (DOBERMAN) EYES LOOKING AT ME WHEN IT WAS HER TIME, I STILL DRY EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE LOST 2 OTHER DOGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. OUT 5 YEAR OLD (HUMAN) ROTTY DIED AND JUST RECENTLY OUR 13 YEAR DOBERMAN DIED IN HER SLEEP (THANK GOD) HER ASHES WERE SCATTERED AT THE LOCAL DOG PARK WHERE SHE LOVED TO GO. I AM A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER HERE IN FLORIDA AND I HAVE RESCUED SO MANY DOGS FROM BAD HOMES AND BAD PEOPLE. WE HAVE A PIT BULL WHO WAS LEFT LOCKED IN A YARD IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST WITH NO FOOD OR WATER BECAUSE THE IDIOTS THAT LIVED IN THE HOUSE HAD BEEN FORCLOSED ON AND DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE DOG. HE WAS 7 MONTHS OLD AND IS NOW ABOUT 12. MY SON HAS A LAB THAT I RESCUED, MY FRIEND IN TENNESSEE HAS A DOG THAT I FOUND, MY NEIGHBOR HAS A DALEMETIAN THAT I RESCUED, I COULD GO ON. WE ALSO HAVE 3 CATS THAT WE RESCUED. ONE IS NAMED JESSIE CARTER AS SHE WAS FOUND OUTSIDE THE CARTER BABY OUTLET BY A WOMAN NAMED JESSIE, SHE WAS ABOUT 8 WEEKS SO WE TOOK HER HOME.

I LOVED YOUR BOOK SO MUCH I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW HOW YOU MADE ME FEEL WHEN I READ IT.

BY THE WAY WE ARE FROM PHILA AND MY HUSBAND GRADUATED FROM TEMPLE ALSO.

THANKS FOR LISTENING.

Eloise from FL

Mark:
My family was shocked to hear you are such a softy dog lover. I remember you talking about “Rescuing Sprite”.

I was even more touched when on Monday I held my best friend of 15 years as he died. For years it was he and I against the world. It is still hard to think about it.

After 20 years in the Army I have seen and caused my share of spilt blood and destruction. Never have I felt this bad.

Knowing that I am not alone in my feelings help and I want to thank you for a message that seemed to be aimed right at me. I would enclose a picture but I am technologically challenged.

KJ from OR

Dear Mark
A great SPCA dog, Woody, lives here. Actually, he belongs to my sister next door, on her 23 acres…He has a radio collar on, so he can’t actually visit me…he can’t come through the pasture fence. This dog is part yellow lab and we think, part Airdale, maybe, because he has somewhat longer hair, and it is curly….and he has wispy facial hair, and a big brown leathery nose. He looks like a bad taxidermy job. He has been here a year, and he LOVES his home. He takes his job seriously…patrolling the perimeter, barking at perceived threats, chasing any cat that will run, and killing the occasional unlucky groundhog or rabbit. When I walk over to feed our horses, if he is out and about, here he comes to greet me…he loves to mouth my hand…but he is so careful not to bear down with those big white teeth. I think if any Liberal would breach our property lines, he could get ugly with them.

Woody replaced Gus, another great SPCA dog, a yellow lab, that died at a young age. I happened to see Woody at the SPCA (York County, PA) when I was taking my cat there to get her spayed. My sister was dogless and still mourning Gus. I told her about this dog I saw that I felt would be “THE ONE”…..when I saw him in that cage, and he was pressing himself against the wire, and saying “Pleez, take me”. She went to see him, and that was all it took. We didn’t know what his name was….so we named him Woody, after our dad, whose friends called him Woody. (Our dad was a Navy pilot in WW2, and always had Lab hunting dogs).

I don’t have a pic of Woody right now, but will take one asap and send it to you.

I got a signed copy of Rescuing Sprite for my sister for Christmas. I know she has been reading it, I have seen it by her chair. I loved the book too.

Now, one other thing…I just listened to your show from March 20, and OH MY, that was a great show. All your shows are great, thank you so much for doing what you do.

Nancy from PA

Mark,
I just finished reading your book, Rescuing Sprite. I started it yesterday and couldn’t wait to finish it. You put into words such heartfelt feelings and many shared by myself. i felt compelled to share my story about my sweet Lola. My son, Kyle, and I had been volunteering at our local Humane Society for several months when one Saturday morning we came in and walked through the dog area as we always did first to greet everyone and see who had been adopted out and who was new. I looked into one kennel and saw a retriever/lab mix, older looking dog standing and just shaking non stop. I picked up the papers to read more about this dog only to find she had been brought in the evening before by her owners who stated they just had a baby and could not have her any more. They told the shelter she was about 6 years old and her name was Lola. The kennel help told me she had not stopped shaking and had not laid down or eaten since she was left. I went back and went into the kennel and then I saw the terrified look in her eyes. The connection was immediate. I petted her head, talked softly to her and then had to continue with my obligations at the shelter. I checked in on Lola before we left and she just looked at me with a heart piercing stare that said “help me”. I could not stop thinking about her but just could not bring myself to discuss this with my husband as we had one dog(young lab) and 5 cats. He was at his limit. (more…)

I was given your book by my mother who is the biggest animal lover I know. I have a schauzer/poodle mix who is a year old. I purchased him from a breeder. I am considering a companion for him, so my mom gave me your book. I read it in 2 days. That may not sound like a bid deal, but I am the mother of two very busy little girls. I spend most of my time on them, so a book would have to be pretty terrific for me to stay up nights to read it. I LOVED IT. Of course, it was a tear-jerker. My mother told me the basic story before I read it, so I found my self fighting tears the entire time, in anticipation of what was to come! I was shocked to read that you thought no one would care about your story. There are tons of dog-lovers like us in the world. I also think most of us are ready to read more nice sweet stories. It was sad, but it speaks to what people can really be like, and the joy we get from animals. Your family is wonderful too. You all sound like very caring and loving people. (more…)