I just spent a “snow day” afternoon from school reading your heartfelt story about Sprite. I must tell you, you moved me to sobbing and teary eyes many times throughout. I felt your pain, especially at the end.

My husband and I have had several dogs in our 30plus years of marriage, and we’ve had to put down 2 of them after 13 and 15 years respectfully. It is a truly terrible decision, but one that we make because we don’t want our precious pets to be suffering. We had a poodle and trying to explain “Why aren’t we going to wait for Gidgy to wake up?” to a 3 or 4 year old child is unbearable. Then explain it to a 17 year old son, who is just about to lose his precious Trixie, a sheltie, after 15 years of loyal companionship. It’s nearly impossible, but we’ve done it, too. LIfe will go on and the sun will come up tomorrow, but it is an inexplainable pain.

We still have 3 dogs, a 5 year old cocker spaniel, a 4 year old Boston Terrier, and her 1 and a half year old Moxie! So we still have love in our hearts to go around to these beauties! We also know another day and another awful decision will come our way, but we still choose to have the dogs! They bring so much joy, and unconditional love, how can we not find more room in our hearts for them! Just wanted you to know how your story will help you heal from this broken heart. Thanks,

Glenda from ME

Dear Mr. Levin
Hello! How are you this New Year? I had to tell you your book was one of the sweetest things I have ever read! My husband bought me your book for Christmas. I also have rescue animals all 8 of them. About 4 years ago I fell and fractured my skull in 2 places. The doctors said I was lucky to be alive. Needless to say I had a long hard road to follow. My husband and children are the most wonderfull people God ever Created, But I had this fear and unease that I could not shake.

Well to make a long story short I started to foster for a Lab rescue here in Dayton. One day the Lady who runs the rescue called and asked me if I could possible take another dog for her, his owners were going to destroy him. He had went through a screen and was out of controll. (at this time I had 5 Lab puppies to care for) I was sick that people wolud kill an animal over a screen so I said not a problem, bring him home. Little did I relize he was comeing home for good. Well the man brought Jack to my store and dropped him off. As soon as I saw this big lug I fell in love, he just walked over and sat down next to me and looked up at me with those big brown eyes as if to say where have you been for the last 2 years. It might sound crazy to some people and maybe I am ,but this dog makes me feel safe. My fear and unease have all but left me.

I just wanted to tell you I understand how much you and your family love Sprite. I am not sure who needed who more- Jack or me. He comes to work every day with me and my husband . So does our 12 year old Beagle Lucy. He is the best friend I could have no matter how hard things get he loves me.

Jennifer from OH

I can’t really say a great deal about him, as I wasn’t around him long. He was only about 6 months old when he was found next to Highway 99 here in California, sitting and watching the traffic go by. I was called to come pick him up for the Weim rescue, but it was clear once I saw him that he was not a Weim. More than anything, he looked like a Viszla, only very very small. He was but 18 pounds, but full of life. Very intelligent and easy to train, too. He might have made someone a great companion, or perhaps a good hunter.All of us from the rescue KNEW he would have a home in no time.

We will never know, as a very old killer of dogs was creeping up on him unbeknownst to us. This killer is now so uncommon as to have gone initially unrecognized and untreated, not that it would have made much difference. It was all so unnecessary, as it could easily have been prevented with the expenditure of just a few dollars.

Finally, on December 30th, the creeping killer, the distemper virus, struck. Kenny had apparently made it through the first stage of the disease either on his own, or undetected. The neurological stage struck, and hit hard. The seizure lasted over 45 minutes and did not respond to any available drug. It was best to send him over the Bridge to a better place. So it was that a little guy never really had a chance, because of foolish, negligent people who didnt immunize their dog, and then left him alongside a highway to eventually die a miserable death.Then also from a truly cheap, crappy animal “shelter” that couldn’t even provide this basic care, and doesn’t do so for any but a very few that they consider “easily adoptable” and not even always for those!

Even if you’re gonna get rid of them, at the very least, please give them a chance. Get those shots for them.

Chuck from CA

I just finished your book. Thanks you so much for it. I have two “mutts”, one rescued from the local shelter like Sprite. Even when they are bad, they’re still a joy!

John from OH

I lost my Shar Pei “Zenna” to cancer (Mast Cell Tumors)December 3rd 2007 three days before she was to turn Three years old, she was such a good puppy and a special dog she left behind her pal and Sister “Baylee”. Baylee was rescued from a “druggie” who I met while I was visiting my Mom with my Dog “Annie” my nine year old Shr Pei. A Neghiborhood girl “druggie” was walking by and saw me and my dog Annie and said “My Boyfriend gave me a puppy that looks just like your Dog” she then went home to get it and brought it to me and that is where I first saw the cutest puppy.

Another Neghibor told me that a group of “Thugs” that hang around with this girl tried to kill the puppy and blow Marijuana in its face, after hearing that I offered her fifty dollars for the puppy, she declined the offer saying that her boyfriend gave her the dog and she couldn’t sell it. I drove home thinking about that poor little doggie (more…)

Our sweet Golden Retriever, Roxanne was our family dog. Roxie saw our son thru middle school, high school and college. She was there for his first girlfriend and his first break-up. She hovered over him when he celebrated too much on his 21st birthday! She moved to another state with us. She graciously put up with 3 cats and another dog over the past 10 years. She accompanied me thru months of cancer treatment and years of recovery. She was with my husband when he lost his job and when he found a better one. She was always there for us. She was ever gentle, friendly, loving and fun. Roxie was one of my very best friends.

We all loved her so much and we now all miss her so much. We had to put Roxie out of her misery in December 2007. She had a mass in her chest and it eventually stopped her from doing everything. We were all with her. We brought her body back home to rest.

Sometimes I miss her so much that I yell or whisper or think to myself “Love ya Rox,” because I do. I want her to know that I will always love her wherever she is. She is a part of my heart and as long as it’s beating, she’s always with me.
We all know that there’s nothing in this world like a good dog. So, here’s to the Roxannes and Sprites of the world, all that they bring us and leave us, even after they are gone!

Donna from MD