Mark,
As I read your book, I feel in love with your dogs, too. I have 4 small dogs, 3 of which are rescues. My adopted daughter did the rescuing.

Her latest rescue was November 2006. Amanda called me at work from her car in her office parking lot. She was distressed as she told me that a manager there was going to put a dog down because “she didn’t get along with the poodle” and “just sits in her cage all day.” She asked me if she could bring this dog home. I was used to saying yes to her by now, so “Yes! Get the dog” it was.

Amanda bought home a female Maltese, with her ear tattooed with her ID, worn down teeth from cage biting, four missing teeth, clean fur and trimmed nails. As sweet as could be. The owner said she was 6 years old. Amanda named her Lulu after a nice lady in her office. We made a vet appointment immediately. We wanted her spayed and a hard little lump on her belly needed to be checked out. The vet thought it could be a beebee cover with scar tissue. We’ll know during spay surgery. And by the way, this dog is not 6 years old. Her health puts her at least 10 years old.

Here’s the worst part, Mark. During surgery, I got a call from my distraught daughter. Lulu’s lump is cancer and she has 3 tumors in her mammary glands. Do we give the vet permission to excise them? “Yes, please save Lulu! I don’t care what it costs.”

After surgery, the vet told us Lulu will recover from the triple mastectomy. However she has a heart murmur and an enlarged heart. Her right hind knee has patella luxation, which is a knee that dislocated easily. No wonder she won’t do stairs! We carry her up and down stairs. She also had 6 teeth removed during her teeth cleaning.

We took Lulu to a heart specialist. With just 2 pills a day, she can live a good life, just don’t let her get exhausted.

Lulu has been a very happy addition to our family for over a year now!! We just love her. There are no cages in her life, she has a big back yard and 3 other dogs for company (and several rescued cats).

I gave your book to my sister who loved and lost several dogs, too.

Janice from NY

Mark, I finished your book in one sitting and with a very wet t-shirt! Tears flowed from my eyes. Im going to lend this book to my mom tomorrow.

I have always grown up with dogs. We had one special girl named Lady, she passed in her sleep last year. She was over 15 years old and for a goldie thats good many years. Lady was a very broad goldie and never minded when children crawled onto her back. She loving cleaned the beagles in the house that were brought in after her. If fact we had two litter’s of puppies and Lady was like a mom to them.

When I moved out of my parents house. I went to the local shelter and got my Chloe Bug. She has a thyroid problem now but we are in the path of correcting it. Two years after Chloe, Annabell was dropped off in the middle of winter (6 wks old mind u) in the middle of my town. I begged my then boyfriend to get her and bring her home to me. He did and now she’s (hopefully) pregnant with her first litter. She is the calmest, beagle I have known,She will look deeply into your eyes as if to say I feel you. Then I found my Miss Molly (muttly) walking down my street over a year ago. I wouldnt know where to be without my dogs. I wouldnt have got through the times I had without them.

I lost a cousin 8 years ago to a tragic car wreck and my dogs always seem to bring me out of the depressive state I get into during the anniversary. They have their antics, and attitudes. I just had to break up a small squabbled before I sat down and wrote this. Thank you for sharing everything you did. For opening up your hearts and allowing millions to see and feel what you did.

Sincerely,

Ashley from OH

Moby… How do I describe him? I truly believe there are masters in this world, masters that are teachers and teachers that come in all phases of thought and form. I have met a few in this lifetime that I consider “Great Teachers” and they don’t always appear in human form. Moby was a 5lb yorkshire terrier. I don’t believe I have ever met a kinder soul. This incredible little being was a true gentleman in all the descriptive senses of the word. He taught me so much. Kindness, patience, dedication, true friendship, joy, gentleness, loyalty and love. A soul, a very wise soul encompassed in a small furry body.

I question; is this why we’re here on this earth, all of us together? Are we here to learn from each other no matter what type costume our bodies are made up of? Moby had the most quiet and seemingly understanding nature. During his 14 1/2 years of life, I was forever learning from this gentle little being. Even after his stroke, he worked and struggled to still try to give me a kiss. His memory lays deeply embedded in my heart forever. Thank You Moby.
April 23, 1993 – Jan. 12, 2008

Susan from CA

Dear Mark,

I write this letter knowing that you and other readers will understand my pain from my recent loss.
Lucy or as the akc knows her “Taylor Lucille Lady of Deerfield” lost her battle with Lymphoma one week ago today.A local Vet came to our home and peacefully helped her to end her misery.Most of the family was there and we held her and kissed her. As usual she responded with kisses and tail wags as best she could in her weakened condition.

Lucy was a big yellow Lab 12and a half years old and my very best friend in the world.At the time Marks book came out I listened to callers thank him for putting their feelings into words,and there next to me in my truck was my girl Lucy always with me always faithful.

How do you describe a life that includes raising a family with kids dressing Lucy up for Halloween or her having her own stocking on the mantle at Christmas.Or my kids taking her duck hunting and watch her retrieve all the decoys because she thought she was helping.She worked with me every day of my life operating a crane even when she was weak I would lift her into the machine.On hot days she would scratch in the cool dirt for a place to lie down.What will I do now without her?I don’t know.I know there will never be another,no dog could ever chase away monsters from the deer camp deep in the woods like Lucy with her hair all up,just protecting us I guess.

I know all you readers understand and Mark especially, I don’t know when the pain will subside.I do know that she is in peace now and she didn’t deserve the pain of that illness.I will love you forever and always remember you.
Bless you Mark for allowing this space to share my Lucy with you and all your readers.
Thank You,

John D Parry

We were the 2 happy people
own by a yorkie named “Crickett” she was the most loving dog in the world. She was our world she traveled with us from the day we were priviledge to have her come into our lives.

A lady in ohio raised them and sold them she gave her to us..Crickett was was suppose to have a diet of rice/brocoli i and eggs. She refused to eat it. We were so concerned she would not eat. We happened to stop and gt some chicken nuggets and then she came alive..We fed her a chicken/leg or thigh every day of her 14 1/2 yrs. At the time of the
day it was for her to eat she would come and bark if my purse was on the floor she would go jump on it and tell me its time for her chicken..

Mark if only I could express to you how glad to know there is another human out there that knows the pain of letting your “baby” go just like you the night before that dreadful visit..I prayed for God to take her..She is in our back yard wrapped in her blankie.. have to tell you this we would sneak her in the motel room with her blankie over her and she would be still and in the room never make a peep. It was a game ..

So smart we live away from all our children & g’children and she just filled
up our days. I still miss her she has been gone 2 yrs.& 4mos..
This is to you”Crickett”
Where you are all without pain and running & jumpimg again…

Faye from OH

I”m not into rescuing; I’ve just always had dogs, mostly stock dog types. And most died of old age; every loss heart breaking. But when my 7 yr. old Moe died from lymphoma, now 5 years ago; I’m still “dealing” with that one.

After he was diagnosed, I had a month and a half to dwell on losing him. I was in a huge funk and could hardly function. My other two dogs wondered why we didn’t go very far on the 4-wheeler anymore.

What I miss most was Moe’s endearing habit of, whenever I would sit down on a step, rock, sometimes even the 4-wheeler, he had to come up to my left side, shove his head under my arm, and sit there with me with my arm around him—his idea.
I still have his sister; and I just wish she wanted me to put my arm around her.

Jeannie from WY