Our lovely Bassett (Hammett) wandered off for 6 days once when he was still a pup. When he showed back up he had sustained a broken femur. He was so skinny and you could tell he was in pain.
He can be sooo funny. He is 2 1/2 years old now.

Andy from AL

Hi, my name is Tasha and I am 14 years old. I read your book and it was one of the best books I have ever read. This year (2007) I lost my best friend, an 18 year old cat named Cleo. She meant so much to me and I loved her so much. When she died I was so sad I didnt know what to do. Your book really touched me and made me feel really good.

Sprite really seemed like a great dog and I am so sorry for your loss. Cleo was my whole world. I grew up with her and I still think about her every day. I miss her more than anything. I just wanted you to know your book really helped me and I truly thank you.

Tasha from MI

I rcvd your book for a Christmas gift. On 10/4/07 I put my wonderful sheltie Rocky to sleep. He too was a rescued dog. We got him when he was 10. He had been abused and abandonned. He was a wonderful friend. He made us laugh so hard we cried and he knew when you needed comforting. I felt and still do guilty and that I had failed Rocky. The last night before I put him down Rocky laid his head on my leg and looked at me as if to comfort me and say it was time. He was 15 and he is missed everyday.

Dana from AZ

Hi, Ten years ago I moved from New Jerwey to a 200 acre farm in Pa. It was culture shock to say the least! I used to visit a local shelter and hand out bisquits, until one day i was haunted. There was a Lab/Sharpei mix balck puppy with the saddest eyes. My husband said if I ever came home with a dog, we could both live out on the lawn under a tent. No dogs in HIS house! Well, I sneakily put my name down as there was another couple interested in this puppy, but I got her! She was beautiful! She won over my man, and we were allowed to live in the big house after all.

One day, Rick had gone away for the weekend, and these trucks pull into the driveway. Men come out with rifles and shotguns slung over their shoulders. I was scared s***less. They told me that their stupid nephew missed his chance on a buck earlier, and wanted to know if they could let the kid shoot a buck that was wandering around our apple trees. Rick had always told me never to say no to a local, because they think they own every acre an “outsider” paid taxes on. So I said yes, and they went to park their trucks. I had not trained Bucca to do much else other than to sit for her treats, but I looked at her and asked her to “speak” With that, she looked out at the field, and began barking! The deer heard her and ran away, and the stupid nephew never got his buck for the season. I don’t know if she saw the panic in my eyes ( I did not want to deal with these guys dragging out a buck and making a mess of things with Rick gone) but it was as if she read my mind and actd on cue.

She passed away on Nov. 19th (in Rick’s arms) and there are so many stories like everyone else has who has ever loved an animal.. Thank you for letting me share!

Rita from TN

Dear Mark:
I would never try to place my story or grief over any others’.
All of us who have shared the special love of a furry friend love and grieve in our own way.
I have loved and lost many pets. I guess the ones that hurt me the most have been as an adult.
I lost my beloved Siberian Husky when she was 16. I got her when I was 19, she died when I was 35…the longest relationship of my life! She was so old and so tired and she was ready. She died in my arms of natural causes.

I then lost, Zach, my Boarder Collie. He died very unexpectatly at age 12 .

Now I have 5 dogs, 4 cats and 3 parrots ( I never had children!) My Australian Sheppard and one of my labs are getting older…my Aussie is 11. Your book and your story have given me a new focus on my loved ones.
Thank you for for you profound and kind story. I hope it has helped me and those I have given your book to to be better companions to our pets and better people.

SIncerely,

Terri from MS

I have a story which happened Christmas day that only people who love their dogs will understand. As a 73 year old retired police sergeant I love your show and your conservatiive values, but when you really showed your heart in writing and bearing your soul in Rescuing Sprite, a side we “men” are not suppose to have and show.
I have a little white Shi Tsu, named “Chrissy,” which I got to take the place of the love of my life I couldn’t have and was suffering from depression and living on anti-depressants. The week I got her, over 18 months ago, I took my last pill. She has been a life-saver to me.

My little 2 year old granddaughter just loves her and I have been talking to my son about getting a dog for her.
On Christmas day, he, as a Battalion Chief on our fire dept answered a suicide call. A 62 year old woman with some of the same problems I had gone thru had lost her precious little white Pekingnese which had gotten outside and she couldn’t find it. Neighbors were looking for it but she went into the house and shot herself to death. Most people can’t realize how attached one gets to our dogs.

But that is not the end of the story. The woman’s son-in-law was a police officer, and when they found the dog about two hours after the suicide call, he called the fire dept to ask if anyone wanted the dog.
My son jumped at the chance to rescue this 2 year old bundle of fur and joy and give it a good loving home with a 2 year old girl, a 10 year old boy, and a playful rabbit Lucy Lu can chase around the house.
Today Rick took Lucy Lu to the groomers to get all the sandspurs out of her that she picked up on her little run outside on Christmas day. She now has two bows and a scarf and looks like a doll.

Funny how God works….when He places too much on us and we react irrationally, He makes everything come out well in the end. I’m sure this fine lady can look down from Heaven and see her precioius Lucy Lu has a good home, loving kids to play with and feel good about it.
Sometimes our police and firemen are more than just our rescuers, they rescue the one most precious to us also.

Dick from FL