I received Rescuing Sprite for christmas from who else but my dog Grace. (grandma bought it of course).

It was just the most wonderful book.

I to lost my best friend a year and a half ago, Dallas, he was my constant companion, my baggage carrier and the most wonderful boy in the whole world.

He love other dogs, loved my nephews and tolerated my two cats.

I adopted him when he was 8 weeks old and he was a very naughty puppy. I was blessed to have 8 wonderful years with him before he became sick.

He woke up one morning and could not walk, after many tests, mri’s and a week in the animal hospital it was determined he had a spinal stroke, the doctor at the hospital told me he would recover. ( I will never take another animal back there)

So I brought him home. He proceeded to go downhill from there. It was a rainy thursday night and he was crying in pain. I called the animal hospital who informed me there was nothing I could do for him.

I then placed a call to his vet at home no less (he is just the most wonderful man) and he asked me what medication I had for him. I told him valium and he informed me to give him about 5 or 6 to help him sleep through the night and 5 more in the morning to help his pain.

That call was the most heart breaking call I have ever made because the next morning I would be losing my best friend.

I layed on the floor with him for a while just looking at him, smelling him and talking to him.

When morning came we put dallas in my car and drove to the vet’s office. I layed him in my back seat and played my eagles CD which we always listened to in the car. We arrived at the office, my sister stayed with dallas in the car and I went in to let them know we were there.

I returned outside and at that moment another woman pulled up with her dog who proceeded to run over to my car, well dallas just layed there wagging his tail like crazy, he loved other dogs and I was so gratful to that dog for coming over to see him.

He passed away about 10 minutes later in my back seat. I have to say I have lost family members and have been sad, but nothing prepared me for the anguish I felt when Dallas left me. I kept his dog bed out for the longest time and would get down and bury my face in it just to remember his smell.

I still miss him to this day.

I adopted Grace from a shelter and she has brought me so much comfort and love.

No one will ever replace Dallas but I know he is looking down and smiling happy that I have given another dog a wonderful home.

Lisa from NJ

Princess, our blonde cocker spaniel, became a part of family when I was ten years old. I had wanted a dog for a long time but my parents had always resisted the idea. Mostly because we lived in a house with a sensor alarm so any animal would’ve always set it off. The summer before my tenth birthday we bought a new house and we could have pet in this one. My mother however said that if I wanted to have the dog so badly I’d not have to not only take care of it I’d also have to earn it. So we made a deal, if got straight A’s all year I would get a dog. So of course I worked harder than I had ever worked in my life and earned the dog as promised.

I remember so clearly the day we bought Princess. We were walking in the mall and passed the pet store. In the window they had a litter of cocker spaniel puppies for sale. Ever since I saw Disney’s “The Lady and the Tramp” I had wanted a cocker spaniel. We stopped to look and I saw her right away. She had her head leaning on the window sill and sleeping. “That one,” I shouted to my dad. So they took her out of the display and took us to their bonding room. Right away she came over to me and licked me and I knew that she was the one. We took her home that afternoon, June 6th, 1989. She was exactly eight weeks old. She immediately became a part of our family. Both my parents are huge animal lovers having had pets all their lives. She was smart, beautiful and loyal. People always commented on how beautiful she was and especially her blonde coat.

In 1994 our family had a major change take place when my father was transferred to Indonesia. We had a choice to make. Do we take Princess with us or not? She had been with us 5 years and was a full member of our family. We couldn’t imagine life without her. So we decided to take the chance and took her with us. We had to leave her in quarantine in Singapore for 5 days. They were the longest 5 days of my life. (more…)

Mark, I so much enjoyed your new book. ” Rescuting Sprite”

I know writing the book brought moments of joy, but I also know it brought moments of sorrow. I can think back to the time I had a St. Bernard and how much fun we had togather. I remember one night I came home from work and found Berne laying in the frount yard. I called to him but he just lay there. This concern me because he normally was all over me. As I approuched he stared wimpering and looked at me saying something was wrong. I then notice the blood all over him. I rushed him to the vet hoping I was not to late. The vet looked at him and said there was nothing to do for him. I was told to keep an eye on him, if he could still go the bathroom he may be ok. I took him home and made him as comfortly as I could. I was up to check on him about every hour. He seemed to be resting comfortly. This went on for about two days and on the third day my wife called me at work to tell me that Berney was not home. I thought at first he was feeling good enough to walk in the woods which he love to do.

I started calling him and searching out the woods, but no Berney. It was dark by then so I headed back to the house. Before going to bed I left him fresh water and food thinking he may come in and be hungry and thirsty.
I was up several times during the night hoping he would be in his bed, but when morning came he was still not at home.

I told my wife I was going to check out the pasture across the road. The grass was tall so I saddled one of the horses we owned and set out to look for Berney. After about two hours I was ready to give up, thinking he would come home when he got hungry. About that time I saw him laying in the grass under a small oak tree. I knew he was dead by the way he was laying. I got down and checked him over. At first I started cussing and then it was crying. I left him there and went and got my truck and loaded him in the back. Why would anyone want to hurt my dog, he was like a big baby and would not hurt anyone. I took him out in my pasture and found a nice cool spot under a large oak tree. As I cryed I dug out a nice size hole I warped him in a clean blanket that he lay on when I would let him in the house. My wife and I had his funeral right there under that oak tree. We each said goodby to Berney. I piled some rocks over his grave and put a cross on the tree right above his head. He as a good dog and I know God took him to heaven to be his dog.

Mark, I have had several dogs over my 68 years on this earth, but have never had to put one to sleep. I can’t imagine how this must feel. I loved Berney and he loved me and if he had lived long enough I may have had to make that decision. I would have to face this by not think I was ending Berney’s life but giving him a chance to fell like he did when he was young and he can do this by sending him to God Almighty who can take care of him where as we can’t. Barney is gone but you can never lose the memeries and through photos he can still be part of your life.

I have never listened to your show because of my working hours, it comes over WBAP 820 am out of Dallas, Texas.

Thank You for writting this book and sharing your life with Sprite with me and anyone who reads this book.

Gene from TX

Mark- I just wanted to tell you that I just finished your book, Rescuing Sprite, and I am still wiping away tears. What a fantastic tribute to a top dog! You should know how much your book will touch dog lovers for ages. I also lost a dog, Charlie, the best beagle in the world and he is never forgotten. His dog tags hang from the Christmas tree each year. We have since rescued two more dogs, Teddy and Lilly who could not be more loving or loyal. I am so glad to see you support shelters and animal rescuers-these animals need all the help they can get. Thank you for touching my heart in such a sweet way-keep up the good work!

Ann Marie from PA

Dear Mark,

My mom just gave me this book for Christmas and it only took me 2 nights to read it! Through all my 2 boxes of Kleenex, I just could not put it down. I am a first time dog owner and Tex, my 9-year-old mini daschunds, is the greatest gift I have ever received. He is a healthy little guy, thank goodness, but I dread the day he will not be with me. Dr. Lori, our vet, jokes with me that she has to handle me with kid gloves because I am so attached to my little Tex. I just keep assuring her that Tex is going to live as long as I do. After reading your book, I know this will be true for he will live in my heart always. I am passing your book to my entire dog loving friends and I am attaching a picture of Tex! Have a wonderful and blessed New Year and please have a radio station in Charlotte, NC pick up your show!

Natalie from NC

“Indy” was a rescue pup, chosen by my son and brought home in spite of my desire to return to the shelter and exchange him for his brother whom I liked better. Little did I know what he would bring to our lives during his three too-short years on this earth. From the beginning he “sat” on the steps, his bottom and a rear paw on one step and the other 3 paws on a lower step. When you played with him he would “snarl” at you in a funny way all the while wagging his tail. And he had the softest ears and he had the look….you know….the look…the one that says “I understand” “I love you” “you’re the best”.

This past August he got tangled up with my other dog, Moriah, on the sky lead. She was a lot heavier than Indy (she’s an 85 lb. Black Lab and he was a 50 lb. Collie/Shep) and he got twisted up and we think he panicked which either broke his neck or strangled him. Finding him that way was the worst thing I have ever known. I miss him every day and hope he is a kindred spirit that I will meet again. I found this poem that really touched my heart and thought I would share it with you.

“It’s only a dog” is what everyone said, as sobbing beside him, I stroked his still head. Only a dog with his own special charm, so cute when he rested his chin on my arm.

He was only a dog that would lie at my feet, went to bed with the children, guarded their sleep. He came at a whistle, his tail waving high, no emotion but love ever clouded his eye.

Only a dog, that was easy to see. He wasn’t a purebred, had no pedigree. I buried him out by a tree near the wood. Regained my composure, as best that I could.

Without even thinking once I reached the gate, I turn and I whistled, then caught my mistake. My whistle unanswered, no welcoming bark, the silence was roaring, and tore me apart.

Only a dog? He was only my heart!!

Cindy from OH