I had two dogs, Jessica and Jake, also nicknamed Sunny and Sparky. A counselor once told me at a very young age, you will never understand unconditional love in your life due to your past unless you get a pet/dog………..I thought about all the inconveniences of that but made the decision to get one any how. My first year with Jessica/Sunny was tough, we fought, argued and bickered continually at each other – she loved me no matter how hard I pushed her away. I then thought I will get her a friend to play with being I made a commitment and would never deviate from my word……….so along came Jake.

Being a single women with no children I made them my babies, after the smoke settled we had many years of good times and bad – mostly good but I was blessed with two “not so healthy” little dogs. They were medical nightmares year after year but we got through it.

I lost Jessica/Sunny 7 years ago and still feel the pain of missing her, we were born on the same day so we had a special connection.

My little guy Jake was 18 last November (07), we celebrated our 19th Christmas and New Years together until Jan 3rd “08” when I had to put him down. (more…)

Hello
I have enjoyed your show since 2002. You are a great American. Last March my daughter Caroline picked a Boston terrier Jack Russell mix dog for our family to rescue. Our old dog Molly had died at the age of 16 in 2006, and while we were still sad we wanted to help another dog. We named the new dog Lucy, and she soon became my best friend, following me everywhere and sleeping next to me at night. She was truly MY dog, although she loved the entire family and was the sweetest, gentlest dog I ever knew. I purchased a copy of Rescuing Sprite for my wife as a birthday gift. My wife and I have birthdays a day apart, hers is Dec. 15 mine is Dec. 16. On the night of Dec 17 my wife started to read the book. On the morning of Dec 18 Lucy was not acting right.

She was hiding in a corner of the room as if she did something bad. After my wife went to work she began to cough. She was not breathing well. I rushed her to the vet. Her lungs were filled with fluid and her heart appeared to be enlarged. Long story short, she had an undiagnosed heart ailment. She suffered a stroked that evening and we had to put her down. It broke my heart. Telling the kids was horrible. I am still not OK from it. Neither I or my wife can bear to read your book yet. It is like a person died. I will never forget how much that dog loved me for the true person that I am.

We have since rescued another dog we have named Riley. She is a lovely dog. One thing I have learned from all this is that if you decide to adopt a dog have it checked thoroughly by your own vet no matter what the adoption paperwork says. Lucy had a clean bill of health and was about 1 year old when we got her.
She had no symptoms of heart trouble. A simple xray might have prevented her untimely death.

Steve from NJ

I’ve had to part with a number of cherished pets over the years – the most recent in July of 2005, a Westie (Makenzie)I’d had for 13 years, raised from a litter of a previous female we also owned from birth to death.

While every pet with whom I’ve parted has come with great heartbreak, I have always taken solace from the attached “Dog’s Plea”

I hope this might reach Mark in some way.

A Dog’s Plea

Dear Master,

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for; thought I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside your seat.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old and no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Your friend and faithful companion for life.

Bill from NC

I was walking through the books at Wal Mart…. I see this picture (one of the sweetest most beautiful dogs ever)…No Offense, but I have never heard of Mark R. Levin… but I see this book and read the inside covers… I start to tear up and I get my son and the book and check out. (I have the book about two weeks before I can bring myself to read it because I know it will be sad).

I read the book tonight, (perfect reading time…. weather is storming all over the state of Alabama). I don’t think I have ever felt so sad reading a book and actually felt so good about reading a book…(both at the same time).
Thank you for being such a great advocate for the rescue dogs. Attached is a picture of Trina, a rescue from Hurricane Katrina.

Vicky from AL

Mark I read your bookrescuing sprite in 2 days. It brought back memories of my shannon a flat coat retriver i had for 10 years and had to put her down december of 2005. I also recured her from the pound.

I now have a new dog named Sam he is about 5 years old and is a sheppard/collie mix also from the pound. I just want to say thank you for writting the book and letting me into your family I will remember this book for ever like I remember my shannon now shannon plays with sprite in heaven.

God bless you

William from Ontario

Dear Mark

I did not know who you were until I randomly picked up your book last week in the supermarket. When I returned home I Googled your name. I also looked at YouTube and viewed you on Sean Hannity’s Fox show I saw that unshakable grief on your face and in your eyes. I felt everything you were saying because I feel the same about my dog, Charlemagne.

Charlemagne had to be euthanized on January 5, 2007 after a lengthy illness. It took it’s toll on the both of us. He came from a pet store who buys from puppy mills therefore he had the odds stacked against him from the start. I too wanted to give up, got clinically depressed and withdrawn. Somehow I found the strength to start fighting puppy mills and now there is a bill in the New York State Legislature that I helped write and push.

Charlemagne made me a better person and I could never express the sorrow I feel from losing him. Especially when I had to make the decision. The morning of, as the sun was rising, I had begged and pleaded with God as well. As he lay dying I felt like I was dying too. I know you know that feeling. And when the vet told me he was gone part of me left this world too. But I live now to educate the public about truly being humane to animals. I am starting my book this week. Thank you for your inspiration.

Yours truly,

Lorianne from NY