Hi Mark!

I sat and read Sprite today. I not only fell in love with your dogs but their family too! I consider you a good friend. I put off the reading of it because my dog wasn’t well and I didn’t want to open the flood gates. You are a wonderful writer…you kept my attention all the way through…and if I weren’t an animal lover when I picked up your book, I would have been when I finished. Thank you for a heart changing book and sharing your Sprite, Pepsi and heart. God bless you Mark Levin, your are one of my favorite people.

Did you know the crepe mytle is from Israel…and it is mentioned in the Scriptures in descriptions of the Holy Land and even heaven. Thought that might interest you. HE created animals and HE doesn’t throw them away…Sprite’s little soul is in heaven.

And I know you prayed for him to die in his sleep but I think what you described as his last day was loving and a heartfelt tenderfilled, albeit, heart wrenching glimpse into the sanctitiy of ALL life…four footed as well as two footed. You have shown millions how to do what they must someday do for their pets, you have shown them how to do it with dignity.
That is a godly and spiritual thing to do.

Bless you and your loved ones.

Psalm: 145:9
Provers:12:10 He loves you and I do too!

Ruth from NY

Just finished your book and here’s hoping that Griffen is leading a happy life. I had Goldie, a mixed breed for 18 years before she died. Didn’t want another dog. However, I have rescued Ridley, a greyhound and my husband and I are both very much in love with him. He was found living in the woods alone, in Arkansas with very little hair on him and hundreds of ticks.

Thankfully Greyhounds Unlimited in Tyler Texas rescued him and I was lucky enough to become his companion. I already dread the time he has to go. I’m so thankful to have read your book. I bought 2 and gave one to the lady who found Ridley and blessed me with him.

Gail from TX

In February of 2007 we had a fire in our house – actually in our son’s room – while everyone was sleeping. my son had attempted to light some incense in his room and when it didn’t work he threw away the long-necked lighter in the trash can in his room. about an hour later, our english mastiff, sydney, started whining and insisted that jesse let her sleep with him – her normal sleeping position is on the landing outside all the bedrooms on the 2nd floor of the house. he let her in and she kept knocking over the trashcan and he kept picking it up. finally he brought her into bed with him and made her leave the can alone. about three hours later there was a full fledged fire in the room – sydney physically pulled jesse out of the bed to wake him and saved his life.

As it turns out, the 100+ year-old house has such thick, tight-sealing doors that that smoke detectors in the landing and in the hallway didn’t get hit with smoke from his bedroom so they were useless. thanks to sydney all were safe, and able to get out of the house in time.

$80,000+ in damages and we lost our cat (smoke inhalation) but all are well. i believe sydney somehow KNEW that the lighter in the trashcan was a problem and she sought to protect the family, and especially jesse, from the danger.

We love her for who she is, but also for how much she loves us.

Heidianne from MO

This is my little guy, his name is JR. I actually do not know how to describe how much he means to me. He was given to me by my ex-husband when he was only 6 weeks old.
He changed my life. I have chronic pain issues and was in a very deep depression before I got him. After I got him I started to move again and get up because I had to, to take care of him. He made me actually look forward to each day again.

He has been with me through the 3 most traumatic times in my life.
1. My divorce. Actually my ex gave him to me and then about 3 weeks later said he wanted a divorce because he couldn’t handle my pain issues.
2. He was my support when my mom and I were watching my Dad die of liver failure.
3. He was my support again while I was taking care of my Mom when she was dying of throat cancer.

It was really amazing how he knew when I was having a really hard time with things. He would always jump in my lap and start licking my face.

The last time I took him to the vet for his check up, the vet told me he heard a heart murmur. JR is eight years old now, and I felt my heart drop when he told me that. I don’t know how I will get through losing this little guy. He is the light of my life, and I know I will never find another one like him. (more…)

I am 77 years old and have had many dogs in my lifetime. I loved all of them, but some of them were unforgettable. Each time I had to have one euthanized, I swore I would never put myself through the loss again. The longest I ever went w/o a friend, was the last time — 3 months. I have always adopted unwanted dogs, either privately or through an organization. My finest bred dog, an Irish Setter, was adopted in 1950, through the old Ellin Prince Speyer Hospital in downtown NYC.

I found that I could not be w/o a dog after that last three months, so I went on-line to petfinder.com and decided to get in touch w/the Australian Shepherd Rescue people. All of my dogs before this were large ones, either Irish Setters or German Shepherds, or in the case of my last buddy, Blackjack, a Doberman/German Shepherd cross. Since I’m getting older, I figured I should go for a smaller breed. The first dog I came across, was an Aussie by the name of Katie, from West VA., who had been mistreated and was looking for someone to love and be loved by. I never looked further than Katie and she has been my buddy ever since, four years now.

Organizations like Aussie Rescue do a wonderful service to both dogs and people, by rescuing the dogs and finding good homes for them. I would suggest that instead of buying a puppy, folks consider giving a home to a wonderful and needy older dog.

Jacquelin from NJ

Mark,
Attached is a picture of Zeus and Chubbs taken in November. I lost my beloved bulldog (Chubbs) 2 days later due to complications during minor surgery. I’m trying to read your book, which was Christmas gift. I can only read 2 or 3 pages at a time, but it’s helping.
Thanks,

Terry from IN