Thank you Mark for showing us this side of your life!

Ft. Benning, GA: Our son’s wonderful ol’ hound, Jessie is hugged by children whose fathers are in Company formation waiting for deployment to Iraq, many for second and third combat deployments. He’s a nine year veteran. Like all of his dogs, she was rescued from a shelter, he believes in giving an unfortunate pooch a good life, says that he is the one blessed by them. In poor health and a bit older than most, Jessie was nursed back to health, they were always together.

A familiar scene on base on and off duty at Ft. Benning, Jessie was a friend to all, a virtual magnet to children who’s hearts were hurting.

We brought her home during this deployment and we enjoyed her more than words can convey, like Mark’s Sprite.
On Dec. 7th, Pearl Harbor Day in the wee hours she died with my wife and I stroking her and telling her what a good dog she was. We had her on meds for a congestive heart condition but it apparently was far worse than we knew. She raised her head one last time to attempt to look at us and slipped away. Needless to say, our Christmas was over, it was all we could do to function, knowing that we also let down our son so far away and the only comfort was that Jessie died with two old folks that dearly loved her. Daily walks, rides to the post office, belly rubs had all come to an end, our sweet tail wagging friend who had comforted us so much during hard moments in our son’s deployment was gone.

Of course, he was crushed but he was concerned about his aging mom and dad too, said to hold on, he’d find another special friend–he has a knack for sure but that’s a long time away. Like Mark, we have a hard time going in an animal shelter without coming out with 50 dogs but we’ll see, we need a little more time though. Jessie’s dog tag that reads “PFC Jessie” and “Hooah!” (after all, she was a soldier’s dog you know) hangs from the picture frame with one of our favorite photos of her along with two other friends under a special gift my wife made, three framed photos suspended under a long bone that reads “Good Dogs”, and they sure were…

Ron from TX

Dear Mark,
I hope it’s ok to tell you about my cat Miko(Meeko). I had him for about 5 years, and i did’nt like cats when i got him, but, eventually he grew on me always wanting to be close and greeting me with purring and rubbing. one thing that brought us closer was he always liked to lay on or next to me when i would go to bed, nuzzling his face into My neck.

I got married in april 2007. He loved my wife just as much.He was the most affectionate kitty i’ve ever been around. On January 14 2008 he was having trouble breathing so we brought him in to the vet and the diagnoses was a tumor in his neck to close to the artery to do surgery, The breathing, rapidly got worse we had to put him down(jan 15 2008 7:45 pm). It went very fast.

You are so right humans get the better end of the deal. He meant so much to me. The last 72 hours have been very hard on my wife and i. I never thought i would be so attached and i cant stop crying and i dont cry about anything, I have a picture on my phone of him and wish you could see him, he was a beautiful siamese. But now he is in kitty heaven probably sleeping on the bed(his favorite place to be). right before he left us he nuzled his head between my wife and i , I think a gesture to say “its okay I love you guys”. Thanks mark, for letting me tell you about my buddy Miko.

Troy from CO

Tori was a beautiful female Golden Retriever. My wife got Tori when she was 12 weeks old, although by the time I met my wife, Tori was six years old. Tori was a real beauty both inside and out, and it wasn’t long before I started taking Tori to my office every day. For six and a half years, she was my “little friend” at work and at home. I can’t even describe the bond that we formed and the connection we had over those years. She was extremely mischievous and a shameless thief and beggar.

Back in 2004 when Tori was 10 years old, we got a German Shepherd pup named Maxine. As an “only child” it took Tori about three weeks to adjust, but after that Tori and Maxine formed a very special bond. The most wonderful thing was how Maxine’s arrival rejuvenated Tori, and reignited her puppy spirit. I think those years might have been the best of her life.

In March 2007, I noticed that I would have to call Tori for breakfast. I realized it was a little out of character because she was always ready for her food. She would eat, but at a slower rate than normal. My wife and I watched her very closely for the next week or so. We thought that it might be painful for her to get up as she was beginning to suffer from arthritis, or it might be that the dry food was painful for her aging teeth. We decided to take her to the vet to get her checked out. The vet performed x-rays of her hind quarters and discovered that the arthritis was in her spine, and suggested that would slow her down. Tori received an injection in her spine and new arthritis prescription. That night when we took her home Tori was back to her mischievous self again. (more…)

Mark,

I listen to your show (via download) religiously, and enjoy it immensely. I have been so touched by your dog story and those of your listeners over the past couple of months.

I bought my wife your book for Christmas, and decided that I wanted to rescue a dog, as well as get a dog for my 11-year old daughter. We researched breeds and rescue groups, and decided to work with the Carolina Border Collie Rescue group.

They alerted me to a stray female BC, picked up in Rowan County, NC. Last Saturday my daughter and I drove the two hours to get this beautiful dog out of the shelter before they destroyed it (it’s a kill shelter with a gas chamber).

I’m telling you Mark, I broke down and cried like a baby when we got that dog out of there–she immediately laid down next to me on the ground and put her head in my lap. That’s how touched I have been with your story and the idea of saving a dog’s life.

I have attached a picture of me and my daughter with “Sadie”, after we got her home and cleaned her up. She is a wonderful dog so far, and we are truly blessed.

Keep up the good work, and push back the liberal hordes!

Phil from NC

Dear Mark, In writing to you about our beloved Bugsy, I’m hoping to lighten my heart of grief. This coming March will be 3 years since we had to put down our sweet cat Bugsy aka Baby Bugs. Our two young sons rescued him off the side of the road where some idiot discarded him and his sibling like trash in Aug.’96. He had several things wrong with him but we nursed him with the help of our vet. He grew to be a large, full grown tabby with not one mean bone in his body.

In 2000, we noticed his breathing was labored and the vet told us his lungs never fully developed and we had to give him pills every other day. Of course, he fought us at first but then eventually he would give in and would let me hold him like a baby and take his pill. Every year he would get a little worse but we would treasure every moment with him. He would try to play with our other cat but just couldn’t.

One night in March of 2005 I found him sleeping sitting up apparently because he couldn’t breath laying down. The next morning we took him into the vet and we had him put to sleep. We’ve had several animals in our lives and eventually had them put down but Baby Bugs was special. Perhaps as special as your Sprite. He was the nicest pet we’ve ever had with never a complaint.

To this day whenever we pass by a veternarian my heart tugs and I look up and think of my Bugsy. Mark, I want to thank you so much for sharing your memories and I hope and pray the Lord will continue to comfort you. I’m hoping some day to read your book but right now I know it is not possible. My husband and I love your show and you make us laugh. You’re not afraid to say what is on your mind and we love you for it! Keep up the great work and God bless America and you. Sincerely,

Linda from NV

Mark thank you for your book it was wonderful..after reading it my sweet black lab..collie mix was diagnosed with inoperable tumors. One on her leg and many more in her chest wall..My family is so heartbroken..I feel your pain Mark, I walk aimlessly around whenever i’m out just at the grocery store . All i can think about is getting home to be with her and my other dog and cats. I go to work and can’t wait to get out just to be with her and hold her and tell her how much happiness she has given me. She will succumb to this horrible disease, i know that, but right now she is here and all i want to do is let her know how much joy she’s given us…

Mark I truly feel your pain… and she isn’t even gone yet… thank you so much for your book it gave me courage to face the inevitable. My heart aches and feels heavy… and that is the feeling you said you had… i know that feeling… i have it right now… your sprite was beautiful..and i know that when my Lady goes she will meet up with Sprite and they can be friends forever… Thank you again for your book and your website,

Barbara… and LADY from ME