Mark,
I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite. I couldn’t get through the last half of the book without a box of tissues. I had to put one of my beloved shelties to sleep Dec. 8, 2007 and all the emotions and conflict you felt for Sprite I felt for my Sadie. I’m so glad you decided to write the book. As animal lovers, I believe we are a unique group, because people who don’t own animals don’t know the love, affection and devotion our fur friends give us. Thank you
Yvette from RI

I’ve been a dog lover all my life, but I met my Heavenly Dog–my canine soulmate accidentally one day when I stopped by the Humane Society to search for a companion for my mom. Dolly was a beautiful but viscious blonde pom who was so quick to bite, Tammy, the director wouldn’t even put her up for public adoption. When I began to coo at the little blonde pom that day, she lunged at me, snapping. Tammy encounraged me to adopt Dolly, but said it would take some time for her to get accustomed to me. I visited Dolly every day for a month. On my lunch hour we would go for a walk. When she bit through my thumbnail one day, I asked Tammy if I should give up and give someone else a chance. She told me I was Dolly’s last chance, so I decided to take her home. She started out in the back seat of my car and by the time we got home, she was in my lap. We’ve been best friends ever since. She was obviously abused. The story Tammy got was that she came from a puppy mill. Because of Dolly, I’ve learned about unconditional love and many other lessons, God has used her to teach me. She is my constant, loving companion. She’s recently been diagnosed with kidney problems which has put her on a kidney diet. For a dog who loves turkey legs more than life itself, that’s hard, but through prayer, we are dealing with the Science Diet K/D and learning to love it. I’m reading Mark’s book about Sprite. I’ve been a fan since I began to hear him on Sean Hannity’s radio show. I’ve been a daily listener since day one. Thank you, Mark, for your love of all things canine!!

Nancy from TX

Dear Mark,

Thank you for writing “Rescuing Sprite”. We have all lost our “friends of man” as I call our dog pals, in the past two years. My mother in law lost Chief the Dog, a dog that she adopted around nine years ago who was a shepherd collie who wound up with bad dysplasia, I think. Chiefy had a good run, and “Mom” told me that Chief came to her ina dream and said, don’t worry, you will see me again, then he went of and barked and played! Sue, my sister in law, lost Fred, a big, goofy golden retriever with the most hideous WOOF BARK. Fred had a good run. But no friend of man was like my husband Skitch’s ‘Queenie the Dog”.

Queenie was like your Sprite. She was not supposed to live, really, she was the last dog from a litter that my husband Skitch’s best friend John’s dog had. She was a “Heinz 57”, too. A Shepherd Terrier who looked like an Italian greyhound.She did live though — to be 16. The day we put her down was one of the saddest days we ever had. We took her to Bull Run Animal Hospital and we said goodbye, and held her paws and sang to her. She had the biggest brown eyes, but she knew it was time to go. And we will see her again. She is chasing a rabbit or a squirrel just like she did in the sand pits in Central, NJ –thank you for your book — I am sure Sprit and Queenie have met up in dog play land in the big sky! I bought your book and gave it to my Mother in Law – and she cried!

I still have Freckles, a lab hound who thinks he is a person – 9:30 PM he barks for everyone to go upstairs and go to bed — lights out! He is just about to turn 9 — we gound him at the Farquier County, VA animal shelter when he was 4 mos . old. He has three freckles on his chin and was supposed to be a beagle, so my son tells me (grin)

We love you, you old sentimentalist! Especially when you denounce Hillary “her thighness” (LOL)

Abbe from VA

Queenie the Dog

You would have loved Ling Ling our Shar Pei. One of my speech students brought her to class one night and spoke about the breed. She was nine weeks old. By the time the class was over my student had a B- (not that great a speech) and I had a puppy.
When she was three she developed a massive tumor at the bottom of the stomach. The vet called to say he had good news and bad news. First she didn’t have cancer, but she would need surgury within 24 hours or she wouldn’t survive. Then he told me he really wasn’t equiped to do such an operation and I’d have to take her to Iowa State University to their veterinary hospital. They were the best.
I packed her into the car and grabbed an othernight bag and headed east to Ames, Iowa.
I’m like you. The accolades to that hospital are endless. They told me they would take very good care of her and then sent me back to Omaha. They told me she wouldn’t need to see me until she was well, but after the surgery they called me every four hours to note her progress.
When i was finally allowed to return to the hospital they took me into a room and showed me a film of the inside of her stomach. Absolutely fascinating.
Lingy lived another nine years, aabout three years longer than normal for the breed. i watched the decline and finally, one day knew I had to take her to the vet again–for the last time. She got out of the car, but as we walked toward the building, she collapsed. The staff came out with a stretcher and carried her into an exam room. The doctor came in and said,”You know she won’t be going home, but we will make it painless and she’ll just go to sleep.” After the shots, she was gone, but I wasn’t. The doctor said, “You stay here as long as you want so you can say goodbye.” and I did and then I went to the desk and made arrangements for her cremation.
Like you,I buried her under a peach tree I had brought when we moved from Omaha to Idaho a few years later.
The following spring that tree produced at least 5,000 peaches–far too many to can so I gave them away. It was my last act of love to Ling Ling and her last act of love to me.
Because my husband is an over-the-road trucker, I feel the need to have a dog in the house at all times and a few weeks later we found a purebred Scots Terrier than is the joy of my life. We now own a bed and breakfast and the minute a guest enters the house MacGregor is right there, flopped over on her back waiting to have her belly rubbed. You are so right, there is nothing in our lives like our dogs.
God bless you and keep you Mark, you are an great inspiration to those of us who believe in the Constitution and this country.

Dixielee from ID

I have read Rescuing Sprite. It is a wonderful story. We too have a Coke, Pepsi, Sprite and Fresca, so it was especially touching to me.
We lost Coke about 3 years ago to Diabetes and Then added Fresca to our family.

Charlene from NY

Hi Mark,

I’ve been wanting to send a quick e-mail to thank you for writing “Rescuing Sprite.” On February 7 (my birthday) we helped our little 14 year old boy, a black cocker spaniel named Felix pass on. It was the most difficult decision I have ever made. I adopted Felix from a friend at 14 months and he was literally the best thing that ever happened to me in that he made me ready to be a grown-up and have my own family. I am indebted to him. I always say that I would have married him but he never asked! My dad, who has very different political views than I, sent me this book the week Felix died. He loved my dog so much. The day he sent your book, he also sent a picture of the gravestone he carved out of Maine slate for Felix (who we called Poops). We received calls and e-mails from many people who loved him. Amazing, the power of these beautiful creatures. It helped me enormously to have your book with me during this time. Reading your story as I was grieving was a great gift. We’re hoping to get another dog this spring and I have scoured the rescue dog sites online. Because we have 2 small children, many shelters are reluctant to adopt out to families like ours but someday, I will adopt a rescued dog again. I would love to be able to give a home to older dogs as my kids grow up. I thank you for your
dog- loving heart ! Dogs and hearts like ours erase all boundaries that divide…

Peace to you and your family…

Kindest regards,

Cheryl from Maine