It was with heavy heart that we said goodbye to our beloved Alexander last week (he’s the big boxer in the photo, laying with his “little brother” and constant companion, Lincoln).  Xander was diagnosed with inoperable paranasal sinus cancer in November and given only three months to live; Xander, the ever stubborn one, went on to live six months instead.  When the time comes for me to face my own demise, I hope I can do it with even half the courage, dignity and humor (yes, if you knew Xander you would understand a dog can have a sense of humor) that he showed these last few months.  He leaves a huge hole in our family; I can honestly say that I’m a better person for having him in my life.  Mark, thank you for your books, your radio show and for this website where we pet lovers can share in our grief and memories of our lost friends.  It helps a very difficult time be just a little bit better.

— Michael from Huntsville, AL

Just wanted to let you know my wife and I just adopted an 8 year old female Shi Tzu named Lady.  Lady had been abandoned by her previous owner.  She was featured on May 7th by the local humane society spot on the noon news called Pet of the Day.  We were interested and officially adopted Lady the next day.  We were apprehensive about adopting an older dog but after a week with Lady we are convinced it was the best thing we ever did pet wise.  We are in our 60’s and she was just a perfect match.  We never really considered adopting an older dog but it turned our perfect.  We would likely not even thought about it but Mark’s example and his passion for adopting older dogs led us in that direction.  Lady has now accepted her new home and seems more comfortable with her humans each day.

— Ron from Mt. Sterling, KY

We are dog lovers, and just lost our “baby”. His name was John Doe. We took him in almost 2 years ago, he was dropped off in a rural area, where we live, abused and malnutritioned and we adopted him. Having 3 dogs already, I told my fiance that would we care for him until we found him a good home. I told her do not bring that dog into the house, because I knew what that meant, but she did any ways. When her friend at work was willing to take him, I just couldn’t let him go, so 4 dogs now.

He lived a good life, was spunky and a lover. His brothers loved him, and they’re getting old …

John Doe liked to chase/race vehicles, we tried to train him not to, to no avail. But today, he ran underneath my truck and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop. End of story, still grieving for my pup! The attached pic is John Doe years ago after we adopted him, along side his big brother Miko. This is my sad sorry, I really miss him.

God Bless from a dog/animal lover

— William from Belgrade, NE

This is a picture of Molly (in the front) & Wee Laddie (in the back). Our girl Molly went to Dog Heaven on Sunday after 17 1/2 years as our best friend. We miss her very much as does Wee Laddie. We were very fortunate to have her for such a long time and she was remarkable – she was in great health right up until a few days before  she passed away. Molly, we’ll never forget you!

— Jeanne from Drexel Hill, PA

I am writing from Puerto Rico, these are our little dogs. They are a god sent for us.  2006 my wife got operated with a tumor in her head the doctors had to open her twice because there were two things wrong a there was water and they had to put a tube from her head to her stomach and remove the tumor. These dogs the female is called tuqui  (tukey) and the male is Casper. They are my wife’s body guards when she goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night they follow her one would guide and the other would fallow and would sit like bookends in the bathroom.  We always celebrate their birthday which is January 29 2006.

— Manuel from Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Our oversized yellow lab, Ed, was 10 years old.  He had had a great life in rural NJ running the deer and turkey and playing with my kids on sleighhills and hayfields.  Last year he slipped and tumbled down the stairs.  It seemed as if nothing was wrong at first, but over time, he lost the use of his hindquarters.  We coped as best we could but it just wasn’t working. He could not even pee without being held up.  Sadly our situation did not allow us to care for a paraplaegic pet, so we had to let him go with dignity.  When he was put down, I asked the vet to clip some of his long thick shoulder locks for us to hold in his memory.  I gave some to each of my three children.  The following Hanukah, my son (who is an avid fly-fisherman) gave me a shadow box with four beautifully tied trout flies carefully mounted inside.  He had made them from Ed’s hair (Lab hair is quite buoyant).  I was so deeply touched by what my son had done in Ed’s memory that I wept.  My wife insisted that he enter the flies in the NJ state fair.  He did, and the display  won 1st place and a special award for creativity.  The ribbons hang on Ed’s shadow box which hangs over the desk in my home office.  I know that he was very pleased and was grinning from floppy ear to floppy ear.

— Dave from Newton, NJ