Dear Mark,
It is January 1, 2008 and I just finished reading my Christmas present from my
husband entitled Rescuing Sprite. Thank you for writing and sharing your experiences.

It will be the two year anniversary this March of the passing our then 16 ½ year old
beloved Jack Russell Terrier named Brenna. Brenna grew up with our two daughters, Erin, now 26 yrs old and Kacie, 22 yrs old. The joy and companionship she brought to our family was beyond belief and like you having to make the decision to send her to doggy heaven extremely difficult. She had been failing for a long time and we even prolonged it further in order to get my two daughters home one weekend (one from school at Temple and the other from another part of NJ) to help us celebrate her life.

My older daughter Erin who is a Vet Tech in Montclair and Verona and is well educated in
these matters told us, “mom and dad, you’ve made the right decision, it’s time to let go, she deserves to rest.” So, for two days we all reminisced, pampered, hugged, took photos, looked at old photos, spoiled her with food treats and cried. Yes, it was sad but we are happy we made the time to spend all together to help celebrate our best friend and
family member’s life together. Brenna, we love you and still miss you. Love, Mom

Maureen from NJ

I received a copy of “Rescuing Sprite” for Christmas. I could not put it down. When I had to make that heart-wrenching decision about my beautiful St. Bernard Sadie in October 2005, I experienced every emotion that is possible. Sadie was beautiful and surprisingly graceful for her size. She, like Sprite, was kind to humans and dogs alike. What a tremendous loss we still feel.

My life has been enriched from having dogs. I miss my Sadie, and the day will come that my other saint, Bonnie will go, but until that day comes I will love her and cherish every moment. Thank you Mark for sharing your beautiful and poignant story about the love of your dogs. Thank you for putting our feelings into words that are so perfect and so fitting.

Dawn from TX

Six years ago we lost our five year old bichon, Sammy, because of a veterinarian’s mistake. We miss him every day. He was the most gentle dog I have ever met and he was there when we needed support during the illness of a family member. (We sued the vet and won, but it does not make up for the painful last days of his life.)

Mary Beth from CT

I just finished reading your beautiful book about Sprite. I identify with Kendall, although I am not nearly the angel she is. Our older dog died of cancer, and I told my husband, no more dogs for a while. I hoped that we could do without the yard cleanup duty, the vet bills, and the heartache of loss. But my husband is a dog lover and wanted a dog. So we went to the shelter and adopted two females, siblings, who are part black lab and part weimerauner. They had both been abused or neglected.

After reading your book, I realize that I should be grateful for these dogs for many reasons. The thing I admire about Kendall is that she wasn’t too excited to get a dog. However, she knew that you and your kids wantd a dog, so she put her desires aside, as a sacrificial parent should do. She helped the kids locate a dog and she tenaciously pursued the dog.

Congratulations to you and your kids for having such a marvelous wife and mother. Congratulations to Kendall for being what I hope to be someday.

Susan from WY

I don’t know about other kids, but when I was pretty young I was afraid of a few things. Like I was afraid of dying in my sleep, and sometimes I was afraid of the dark. And don’t go sticking spiders and snakes in my space, either. I don’t remember ever confessing these fears to anyone, and I don’t know if anyone ever guessed. Some fears you outgrow as you get older, and some just seem to stick with you. So keep those spiders and snakes away from me, if you don’t mind. But these days dying in my sleep no longer troubles me, as a matter of fact I’m kind of curious what it’s like on the other side. And my fear of the dark I overcame a long time ago with the help of my dog Fritzie.

We moved into our new house up the hill from Wauregan when I was about seven years old. We had a big fireplace, which Uncle Charlie had built, and we used up a lot of firewood every winter. Sometimes Dad would send me out to the woodpile to get a good size hunk of maple or oak. That was only a problem when it was dark outside. (more…)

I read your book and cried through the entire time, it was a touching story and I can say I have lived trough it! I am sorry for your loss. I was surpirsed to read peoples names in your book that I know, David is my lawyer! The story is touching and sad, but I will tell you my four legged son’s name is tattooed over my heart with the date of his death under it! I have him with me always and his ashes set in my office in a jar, the place where he always was with me and when my time comes he will be placed in the casket with me, I hated going anywhere without him, and so the only place I went that he could not go was the store, however he waited at my office door for my return! Thanks for writing the book, sharing your story and allowing people into your life with Sprite! God bless you and know that Sprite is waiting for you on the other side!

This might help you to know you did the right thing!

A PET’S REQUEST

If it should be that I grow weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won. (more…)