The other day, I received a hilarious video of “talking dogs.” I haven’t the faintest idea how these owners have enough patience to teach their dogs to speak the phrases in the video, nor do I understand how the dogs do it.

However, I was surprised the other day when I was covering Blackjack’s bed with a clean towel (washed weekly, which he enjoys). I was talking to him as I did it, and asked him if he liked having a clean bed to sleep in. The entire time I was arranging the towel, he was stepping on it and making the usual grunting noises. Just after I asked him if he liked the clean towel, he made a grunt that sounded exactly like, “Uh huh.”

I was shocked and amused. Suddenly my ordinary and moronic dog was transformed into something resembling a human, and I love him even more for it. I also realize that it was just coincidence that his grunt sounded like human language, but that doesn’t make it any less endearing or special for me.

Is it the best thing in the world to feel like you’ve truly communicated with your furry friend? Uh huh!

Shirlyn from TX

For Christmas, 1996 , our Daughter gave us a beautiful English Bulldog pup. We named her Daisy Mae. We loved her so very much.
On December 4, 2002 we lost our beloved Daughter Julie Ann. We are still in our grieving process, but losing a child is like that. Daisy Mae became even more important to us, since in our minds she was the last physical link to our beautiful daughter. When Daisy passed on to the Rainbow Bridge to be with Julie, it hit us again how much we miss our daughter and how much we love Daisy Mae. She left us the day after Mothers day 2006. Some dear friends of ours have just gone through the almost identicl situation and we gave them your book. Bonnie said we couldn’t have picked a better gift.
Thanks, Mark. You helped us to help a friend.
Sincerely,
Jim and Judy from CO

HI MARK   WELL  IT SEEMS LIKE  YOUR ONE OF A KIND WE HAD A  DOG NAMED  SPARKY HE WAS A BRITANY SPANIEL MIXED WE GOT HIM  WELL MY DAUGHTER GOT HIM  WHEN HE WAS SEVEN MONTH WE HAD TO SAY GOOD  BYE TO HIM  LAST SEPT.  HE  HAD GOTTEN   A VIRUS  LAST SUMMER AND NEVER RECOVERED, HE GAVE  US ALMOST 17 YRS OF   FRIENDSHIP NEVER NEW A STRANGER . THE KIDS WOULD   DRESS HIM  IN T  SHIRTS  BALL CAPS  AND  SUNGLASSES. AND BOUGHT US MANY MEMORIES I WAS  REALLY  CAPTURED  BY YOU  SORY YOU  TALKED ABOUT  WITH  SPRITE AND CAN FEEL  EMOTIONS  OF  LOSING A  GREAT  FRIEND   LIKE  THAT AS WE  DID ALSO, THANKS FOR  SHARING YOUR  STORIES WITH US . I CANT PUT INTO WORDS THE WAY I SHOULD  WRITE THIS E MAIL  BUT IM SURE  YOU WILL  UNDERSTAND  THANKS AGAIN 

Gary from NY

A man flagged me down at the corner of Underhill Ave. and Bergen Street-Brooklyn. He told me that there was a dead dog in the vacant lot. I investigated, and saw a gold hair dog in a ditch. When I approached, it looked up at me. It was badly injured, covered with hundreds of bees. Her back and belly had deep lacerations. The man who flagged me down followed me and we both try to find a way to lift her out ditch. He found a piece of plywood and we managed to get it under it. I noticed she was a female dog and that her front right leg was broken. We carried her out to the sidewalk and with all her injuries; she managed to stand, next to me. Kids in from the neighborhood said that drug dealers threw her off the roof across the street, three days prior. She was in that hole for three long days. Well, I notified my boss and I took her to a vet I knew of in Queens. The vet exam her and confirmed that her leg was broken and lost some blood. She also said that she was about six months old and was the main reason she survived. The next major problem was, if no one claimed her or responsibility for her medical expense, she would be put to sleep at the end of the day. Needless to say, Sandy and I have been together for ten happy years for far…

My wife, Barbara, who was my girlfriend back then, had a dog named Bull. A giant German Sheppard, Collie mix. He took her under his wing like a big brother. They were inseparable until he past on president day 2006-cancer. Sandy now has a new sister, Stella, a Border Collie- Cattle dog mix. Sandy was sad for a while, but now has to put up with Stella and me.
So god bless you and thank you for being a Great American, When I listen to your show, you truly give me hope..
Ray from NJ -Ret NYPD and Ret. USAF Res.

Mark, Thank you for Rescuing Sprite. I just finished reading it, & cried along with you. We had a spaniel/terrier dog for 14 years, Romeo. We lovedhim so much. He got hit by a car & we had to have our Vet put him to sleep. We will always miss him, but loved having Him as part of our family.

Carol from OR

Mark. I can imagine what you went through. I own 4 cats each with their own personality. Mama Kitty, and her 4 surviving kittens. I know that some point I am going to have to say “Good-Bye” I dread it. I think you have done a great service to those of us who LOVE our animals Dogs, cats, ETC,and let them go with dignety and love and not feel asamed to cry at their passing.
With Love from ALL animal lovers,

Steve from CA