Beemer was my daughter Beth’s cherished friend for 15 years. Adopted from a shelter near Dallas, Beemer couldn’t have found a better owner.She loved that dog dearly. Beemer was showing her age, but Beth’s devotion never waivered in spite of all the inconveniences and problems. One day after arriving home from work Beemer was discovered in the small fish pond in the backyard. She had somehow fallen in and drowned. Beth was and still is devasted.
Coincidentally, I had just purchased Rescuing Sprite Actually I bought three copies, one for me and two more for my children. She was so grateful to receive that book and told me how much it helped her. She said it was so good to know that there were others who felt the same way about their animals. It was even more special because someone so prominent was willing to express his feelings about his dogs.

Thanks for the book Mark.
We were all moved by it. And thanks for the radio program. I can’t tell you how much we have all learned from you. Even though we are distanced from our family, we are all listening in our various locations. The show is very often the topic of our conversations.

Ellen from NJ

Mark – I just wanted you to know that your book was wonderful. It took me 2 months to read it because I could not stop crying, but what a wonderful tribute to Spritey, and what an incredible spirit he was. Your book inspired me to write my own story about my baby Luna, whom I lost to Cancer in January 2007 at the young age of 4. To this day I cry for her and miss her terribly, and your book really made me realize that I’m not alone in my grief, that there are many other dog lovers out there suffering as well. You’re in my prayers. Here is her story. It’s very long (sorry):

Luna’s Story

Birthday: 1:15pm October 14, 2002
Birthplace: Norco, CA
Passed through to the Bridge: 2:15pm January 17, 2007

Joy:

In the summer of 2001, my brother told me of a friend of his with two black labs they were going to breed and sell the pups. I cannot stand it when people do that because there are so many dogs in the world that need homes, but my husband and I were considering adopting another dog as a play mate for our then 8 ½ year-old black lab Gypsy, so we told him to let us know when the pups were born and we’d think about it. We wanted a yellow lab female. Time went by and after a few months, we forgot all about it.

Moving forward a year 1/2, it was now October 2002. I was at home when my brother called, telling me the pups had been born and there were two yellow females. One of them, the runt – a tiny yellow female, was reserved for us if we wanted her. She had been born “blue” – not breathing, and because of that nobody wanted her. I couldn’t quite understand that since she lived and was fine, so off we went to meet her. When her eyes met ours, well, that was it. We were captivated, in love, and all hers. We named her Luna, after the Greek moon Goddess. (more…)

My story is neither sad or funny, it’s just Truman. I adopted Truman, a now 110 lb. white lab, for my then young son who needed a friend. I was told he’d be 60 to 80 lbs. Not so much. We got more than a friend, with those extra pounds and inches. I’m not always well and he seems to know first when I’m not. He lays down on the floor with me and stays there until he is sure I am asleep. He then assumes his post on a rise of the stairs where he has a sniper’s view of all that can be surveyed. He stays there, no matter what is going on around him, without fail ,until Mom awakens and calls him over. This was not something he was trained to do, it is something he assumed to be his job.
I am truly blessed to be loved by such a perfect sweet creature, my boy, Truman.

Pat from PA

TUCKER was abandoned and rescued from the Wayerbury Ct. dump. Every time 101 Dalmations is shown people go out and pay a lot of money for a Dalmation for their kids. Dalmations are not good dogs for children and require the care and attention of a child themselves. Since I have seen advertisements for the movie recently maybe you could warn people to learn all they can about the breed before they go abd buy a dog that they may not be happy with. Dalmations are great dogs but they are not patient and quiet like a Lab or a Golden etc.

Michael from CT

Dear Mr. Mark Levin,

My name is Nicole Thorp I am 12 years old. First I have to say that I love Rescuing Sprite I think it makes us cherish the time we have with our pets. I had a pet to until the morning of Febuary 5, 2008. My cat Sprite sneaked out of the house the day before and she didn’t come home and I thought it was strange. My mom went and looked for her as I got ready for school. She found her on the side of the street flat on the ground, laying there. She got hit by a car. I was heart-broken. I started crying and crying I couldn’t stop. I loved her and she loved me to. Everytime I had lost a pet I didn’t know what happened to them, but with Sprite I did. She was the best cat I ever had and now she’s gone never to return. Now I know how you and your family felt when you lost Sprite. I feel the same way, I miss her a lot and I can feel her absence around the house. I miss her. Thank you for listening to my email because you are a busy man. You can write back if you want.
P.S my dad loves your show he watches it everyday.
fondly,

Nicole from WA

Hi Mark,
Before your book came out, I listened to you every night and heard bits and pieces about the great story of Spritey! Each day I tried to focus more attention on my two Rottweilers, Maedche and Rommel. I think you are an angel, b/c on November 17th, I had to put my sweet baby girl, Maedche to sleep as I found out two days before that she had lymphoma spread throughout her body! As she was being put to sleep, I held her ihead in my arms and thanked her for being such a good dog! As I walked away, I thought that being an adult stinks, b/c prior to Maedche, I had never had to lose an animal as an adult. It was then that I empathized with my father as I remembered all our pets that had died. I am so grateful for those extra minutes I spent with her and credit those minutes to you. Losing maedche was a huge blow to my 5 year old son and me! It saddens me the most when he says he wishes for a huge ladder to go up to heaven and visit her! The week I lost her, I read your book and cried my eyes out! I, like you, was glad that I at least had my other dog Rommel to console me. He is a great big Alpha male and prior to losing Maedche I had never heard him whine. But, that is all he did for days after! Now that it has been almost 4 months, we are looking into adopting another Rottweiler. There are so mony dogs who need a good home, so hopefully we will be able to provide one for one lucky pup! Thank you again Mark for getting me through this most difficult time in my life!!!!!!!!

Allison from CT