Dear Mark,
I didn’t feel like I would be writing this at this time. We just lost our beloved cat, Scooter, last night. I found him this morning. I brought him home and wrapped him in his blanket. I walked in circles around the house a good part of the morning. I Held him for a good part of this morning, then laid him on the couch, kind of avoiding what I knew needed done.

I grabbed a box out of the closet, but I just couldn’t put him in a box. I went to Wal-Mart to find something to put him in with enough room for his blanket and his toys he got for Christmas. The feelings got tougher to deal with looking for something to lay him to rest in. He wasn’t quite a year old. I haven’t owned an animal since I lived at home with my parents, and that’s been 20+ years.

I wasn’t looking for one, but he adopted us. He came to me on the back deck as a stray, he thought I hung I hung the moon and the stars, and I never was a cat person. I kept waiting for him to run down the hall today to see what I’m doing. We just buried him an hour ago. I was waiting for my girlfriend to get home so we could do it together. I’m familiar with your book. I may wait a bit before I pick one up to read when I’m ready. He was a good cat. My eyes are still wet as I type. I wanted to send this to you, I hope it will make me feel better tomorrow. You would have liked him. If he was able to, I’m sure he would have voted Republican.

Thanks Mark! I guess this is my start of the healing process. I’m gl;ad you had this venue, because I couldn’t have called your show, because I think I would have cried out loud. I know you’re a conpassionate man towards animals.
Thanks so much,

Steven from TX

I just finished reading your book, Rescuing Sprite. I had been eyeing your book at the bookstore but couldn’t bring myself to buy it as my dog, KC, was suffering from congestive heart failure and I knew her time with me was coming to a close. I had to have her put to sleep last Friday, at 4:30 pm and was absolutely devastated.

While my husband loves our dogs, he isn’t as open about his feelings as I am and felt very alone. I ran out and bought your book on Sunday and didn’t stop until I was finished that day. I can say that I am so glad you wrote that book because I could identify with everything you said. It was incredible and really did make me feel better. I was so torn in half by putting her to sleep. I felt so guilty by being the one to decide the date, time, etc., that would end her life. Everyone kept telling me it was the right thing to do but the other half of me kept screaming not to do it. I just wanted you to know that your book has brought so much comfort to me, just to know I’m not crazy for feeling the way I do about losing my baby!

Thanks for sharing your deepest thoughts and I know you have probably helped thousands of pet lovers like me and will continue to help in the future!

Thanks so much!

Kathy from IL

I thank you Mark for your book. As a dog and animal lover all my life, I believe you have captured, in it’s simplest form, the true love we have for our 4 legged friends. I have had to put down several dogs in my life (42 years old) and none have been easy. They have all been very hard but always knowing I would see them all again. The thought you had which best captured my feelings is “we humans are the lucky ones” Thank you and I hope and pray that when our current puppy, Shelly, goes to heaven, she will be waitng for me along with her brothers & sisters to come home to her so she can give me her doggy kisses as only she can. May God bless you Mark and your family as well.

Anthony from NJ

Dear Mark,
Today is the day I will be saying goodbye to the most incredible being I have ever known, my 10 year old Boxer, Cuba. This is by far the hardest thing I have every had to go through, I think even harder than hearing my cancer diagnoses. It feels as though my heart will break in half, I don’t know what it will be like “not” to see him when I come home, not to feel his ears between my fingers, or to see that look of pure love in his eyes.

I know you know along with many others that our dogs are special to us. Cuba has touched my life so deeply but now it is time to give him back to his creator.

God Bless.

T.L. from FL

Attached is my favorite photo of my heart pupper Annie with my new puppy Sophie (now 7 years old). I lost Annie to cancer 3 years ago, part of my heart. Sophie is now my heart pup and best friend. We have just moved from Seattle, WA, to Lyme, CT, and are enjoying our new life on 10 acres in this most beautiful place to live.

Joan from CT

Read your book on 12/7. Fabulous emotional read. Have had many dogs and cats. 5 cats now. Lost cat Woody a Maine Coon 5 years ago. It was like Spritey.
Have bought and given away 5 books!

Thanks.

Carl from NY