Mark, I wanted to share an email from a dear friend of mine who lost her dog after 16 years. It broke my heart to read that the love of her husband and her life had passed over this past weekend. I am sharing a picture that I asked for her to send me to share with you. If there is anyway I can buy an autographed book to Portia and Mike please let me know. They have no children and this dog was their life.

TO ALL: For those of you who didn’t get the message, our sweet dog “Tootsie” died this past weekend. She was 16 but still very active and the best companion anyone could ever imagine! We’ll remember her as the “love of our life” and “life of our parties.” Thank you also for sharing your friendship with her. I know Tootsie’s in heaven, in good health, running and playing and happy.
Love,
Porshe and Mike

I’m crying as I read your note. I loved her very much!
I hope to see you soon! Love, Porshe

Lloyd from VA

Dear Mark,
I heard Rush talking about “Rescuing Sprite” one day just before Christmas and had to purchase it. Last Sunday I sat down and read the entire book without moving. I bawled the entire way through. Bless you for sharing your personal story with so many of us who love our dogs and assorted pets.

Having a dog has made me a better person. My faith in God is much stronger now because I know dogs were put here to teach us humanity and love and joy and trust.

My father passed away from Alzheimer’s this year. Towards the end, the only happiness we could find in his lost soul was when he would pet our dog. Somehow, she could connect and reach into his heart and pull out what we thought was long gone. Others in the nursing home benefited from our dog’s visits as well. Perhaps it is the purity of their hearts than can reach into those that can no longer connect with humans.

My hope is that your book will touch those that take their pets for granted and teach them that animals deserve to be family members, not accessories. God bless you all. God bless Sprite.

Heather from MA

I recently finished reading rescuing sprite and I bawled my eyes out all the way through the end. Both Sprite and Pepsi remind me of my dog Sophie who is a 10 month old Springer spaniel. She is my first dog (im 14) and I have never been more attached to anyone or thing in my life. I had to laugh when you described Pepsi’s “devil mode” because Sophie does they exact same thing, running around the kitchen and living room as fast as she can, grunting and occasionally flinging a toy or empty water bottle around. She is also going through that chewing/nipping stage where she eats everything and anything she can find, like what you said Pepsi had done in his first year with you. And of course Sophie has to be the center of attention all the time. Although Sophie is completely nuts, after a nice big walk, when she’s tired out that cuddly, calm “sprite side” of her shows. All she wants then is a nice belly, cheek or chin rub and to lie on your lap.

I also thought it was funny how you said you slip them some of your dinner, because my meal is Sophie’s meal, she eats everything I eat plus her dog food, but she is so active she burns it all off after we go “off-leashing” in a near by field. Anyways, I just wanted to say how much I LOVED your book, it made me feel like I almost knew Pepsi and Sprite and you! Thank you for a wonderful book, and im sure if Sprite could have talked he would have thanked you everyday for giving him such a good home.
Alyssa from Winnipeg

I read with much joy and sadness your story about your beloved Sprite. No words can adequately reflect the difficultly of losing someone (dogs are people to me) that you have loved and nurtured, especially one for such a short period of time. Huge kudos to you for taking such good care of him and loving him. The older guys seldom get adopted and I have made it my mission to adopt as many of the old ones as I can and make their last years as wonderful as possible. I have adopted from a shelter, rescued a puppy and adopted two labs from a rescue group.

With sadness, I have had to let go of three of them – a brutally emotional event for one to go through. I currently have one lab named Bo, who came to us around 8 years old. He had clearly been abused and it has taken much patience and love from us to help him adjust. All he wants from us is love, love, love and we are more than willing to give it.

Your book was fabulous – you said the things I feel about this process. I admire your honesty – sometimes I think people just don’t understand my attachment, not only to my dogs, but dogs in general. I listen to you often and know you are a huge animal supporter. I have attached a link to an article in the Capital Newspaper – take a look and see if you might be able to give the issue some air time. I am writing letters and calling non stop and will soon become a permanent visitor to some state and local offices until this law gets changed.

May God bless you and your Sprite – I am confident he is playing with my guys that have gone before him.

Adele from MD

www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/02_11-04/OPN

Mark,
I would like to tell you a little about the dog we had when I was a kid. His name was Chopper and he was a Blue Healer. Blue Healers are herding dogs and like to nip anything that comes near. Chopper was a growler that in spite of his growls was always happy.
He had a particular joy which was biting brush. This involved jumping in to the pick-up truck , Chopper always rode in the front, and driving through a thicket of brush. Chopper would start biting the brush through the open window and not stop until we were through the brush patch. Occasionally he would bite on to a branch that he couldn’t snap through and he would get sucked out the window before you had a chance to stop. The really funny thing is that he would usually hang from the branch until you would stop the pick-up get out and lift him and give him a little pull.
I just finished reading “Rescuing Sprite” last night and I would to thank you for writing it.

Jerry from ND

I really miss the dog stories calling in. you are the fastest 2 hours in radio. i drive a truck and listen everynight truckin down the road. i have 2 dogs with me.golden retreivers. Leo and Peanut. Peanut did not grow to full size. he was the runt. still the best dog…. what do you call a smart blond… a golden retreiver…I know you like patriotic songs…check out the song “I Pledge my Allegence” by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound Quartet.

John from NE