I just finished reading your book and have to say thank you for sharing what so many others feel. I sit here watching my phoebe, a 15 yr old lab who came to live with us from a shelter at the age of around 4 or 5…she has helped us through the death of my mother and mother-in-law husband and son(all within a 2 yr period)…now my sons whom she loves with a passion are in alberta canada studying (I am canadian) and I am not sure if they will see her again. I know that some day the same decision you had to make I will have to make but my prayer is that it is not soon. Again thank you for your words.

Lynda from FL

My daughter was working at the pound while studying to be a Veterinarian’s Assistant.
There was a little black and white puppy who had been passed over for a couple of weeks and was scheduled to be euthanized. One of my daughters duties was to prepare the animals for the procedure. It broke her heart to do it and when it came time to destroy the black and white pup she couldn’t do it. When she pulled him from his cage he buried his face in her smock, shaking and crying so mournfully her heart broke and she wept too.
He didn’t want to die. He was so smart, he had learned to understand what happened to the dogs and cats who were not adopted and he knew what was in store if he was taken into the back of the pound.
My daughter told her supervisor she could no longer help with euthanizing and took the dog to the front to adopt him. The folks at the pound were very upset with her and she was suspended for a week but she brought Ziggy home.
It’s no small task for a single girl to raise a puppy while working full time and going to school. We helped puppy sit and soon she had a beautiful, athletic adolescent dog.
Ziggy was the fastest and most athletic dog I had ever seen and I qualify that statement by the fact my father raised champion bird hunting dogs. Shorthair Pointers. (more…)

My family and I had to put our own dog, Dozer down on July 18th 2007. He was a dirty street dog we adopted through Kent Kennels in Calverton, Long Island. We had him for 14 years. Your book helped me through the grieving period. Real men do cry. We miss him!!!!

P.S. We recently adopted another dog from Save-a-Pet In Port Jefferson, Long Island. Her name is Shiloh and she was shot by her owner in Oklahoma and left to die. She was rescued and shipped to New York for adoption. We gave her a home for Christmas, and she is wonderful. No dog can replace Dozer, but Shiloh is definetly helping to fill the void. Thanks again for a great book,

Steve and family from NY

I am just about finished with your book about Sprite. What a joy for you to have had a dogs love. I too had a very special dog named Dixie. She was a very abused, almost dead, dalmation that stole my heart. I had 7 fantastic years with her. She understood more english than most people and was better behaved than most peoples kids. She had a repertoire of 20 different tricks (I taught them to her to restore her spirit) and would sell out for a piece of cheese. I will miss that dog til my dying breath. A more loving or loyal companion would be impossible to find. She had this stare…and she wouldn’t quit til you gave in and gave her what she wanted. She won every time.

I now do rescue for Saints with the National St Bernard rescue foundation. Education is our only hope. To educate the backyard breeder into not raising more problems. We have enough dogs…we just need to take care of the ones already here. Everyone should know the gratitude of a rescued dog, not to mention the unconditional love. No finer a love to be found. Thanks,

Cheryl from WA

Thank you for such a lovely book I lost my border collie last may who was 14 years old the most loyal,faithful and loving dog in the world we all miss him so much but on new years day my husband bought me a 9 week old border collie and within hours he made my house a home again which I thought was not possible. Barney will always be close to my heart for the rest of my life and now I have Marley I feel I can become happy again so thankyou again for such a lovely book which helped me a lot to know other people really do care for their dogs as much as I did.

Sue from England

Dear Mark;
Thanks for writing such a great book. We lost our dog Holly within a few weeks of reading it. Following is an e-mail we sent to all of our family members the same day Holly passed on.

Hello everyone;
I just wanted everyone to know that at approximately 10:30 AM today we put Holly down for her final rest. It was very sad. Her health had been deteriorating for about 6 months. This morning she could no longer get off her bed. Noreen and I carried her on her bed into the car for the 10 minute ride to the vet’s. We then carried her into the vet’s office the same way. We had to wait approximately 30 minutes before the vet could see her. During this time we noticed that she was in a lot more pain, but was comfortable on her own bed.
When it was our turn we carefully dragged her bed down the corridor and into the examination room. The vet who was very patient and kind examined her. He told us what we feared we already knew. She had advanced arthritis, hip displeasure and a very hurt shoulder from a fall last night. Additionally the vet discovered that her heart rate was very low concluding that she had additional problems and did not have much time anyway.
We agreed that it was time to let her go. The vet gave her a strong sedative and said that he would be back in 15 minutes. During this time Noreen gave Holly as much love as anyone possibly could by holding her and talking to her while I gave both of them support. When the time came Holly was already asleep hopefully dreaming of times when she and Noreen had their favorite moments down the shore. She left comfortably in Noreen’s arms and on her own bed. (more…)