Dear Mark…

Thank you for writing and sharing your story with the public about Sprite. Your book has helped more that you would ever know.

My story is a heartbreaking story about a dog who i loved and who entered my life when i needed her the most.

As I write these words my eyes are already blurred with tears but you have taught me that my dog’s story needs to be shared because she is an inspiration, an angel in disguise.

June 2006, two days before my Lupus flared up in my spine causing me to become paraplegic my family welcomed a puppy, a toy poodle in our life. I named her Ginny, pronounced “Genie” as in my mom’s favorite television show, “I Dream of Genie” and after a character in Harry Potter, Ginny, Ron’s little sister who had red hair because my Ginny had a hint of red in her color.

I was rushed into the hospital after spending only two days with my Ginny because one night i woke up and realize my legs were no longer moving in my command.

I was delusional for a few days. not comprehending anything. I has to stay in the confines of the hospital, I had no choice. All I wanted those days was to see my Ginny. I wouldn’t because of strict rules that the hospital had but my family always kept me up to date on her well-being, brought me pictures and showed me a clip of her that they videotaped.

Ginny was my strength to get me well enough so I may go home. It took me a little over 2 months of medication and physical therapy to be well enough to go home to my Ginny. (more…)

Mark… I just finished your book and am moved to believe another macho conservative like myself could care for one they love. I lost my wife in July of this year and it has been the Girls and myself sense. Sugar is a older Lab ,and Princess is the Beagle, Both are rescue dogs, Both Spoiled only as a loving parent could do. Sugar is now nearing 14 yr. and authritis is taking her ravages upon her.

I read your book and the tears well up. I to must face the task …. but not today…. Thank you for the opportunity to share. and if you can try to view this link , I somehow feel you will understand we are not alone they are waiting for us… http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Respectfully ,

Thom, & The Girls from MO

My wife and I don’t have children yet, but we do have a wonderful little dog named Wiston. We got Winston, a Havanese, as a puppy just around Valentine’s Day 2007. He just had his one year birthday on December 16th. In July, I was downsized from my employer in Milwaukee, which forced me to find new employment, which happened to call for a relocation to southern California. We needed to sell our condo, but my job required me to move out first to begin work, while my wife stayed behind in Milwaukee until our condo sold. This was a very difficult time, but our little dog did wonders to keep my wife company in between trips to visit each other.

By God’s grace we sold our condo and now my wife and my doggy will be out here in California just in time for Christmas. I also read Rescuing Sprite about 2 weeks ago and boy did that make me really appreciate the companionship that these wonderful animals provide. Thanks Mark and thanks to all of you for sharing your great stories. Hopefully I will have more for later. In this picture Winston’s fur is nearly shaved because his fur was extremely matted. :) He’s still the cutest. Merry Christmas!

Mark from CA

About an hour ago we lost our oldest dog, Maddie. She was 12 years old. Maddie was a schnauzer, a pretty silver grey color. She had a good life, at least that is what we tried to give her. She enjoyed chasing chickens that wandered from the neighbor’s yard into ours. When Maddie was tired in the wintertime, she would lay on her pillow next to the heater. Her best friend was Diego, a miniature Yorkie/poodle mix. Diego liked to sit on top of Maddie like a horse… Maddie tolerated it, as if he wasn’t even there. They played together, went outside together, and ate dinner together. Diego keeps looking for her tonight, I don’t know how to explain it to him… He’s laying on her pillow now.

My six-year old daughter Isabella is trying to stay brave, as are her brothers, Michael, 14, and Hunter, 12. They don’t remember a day without Maddie. She has always been there to greet them when they get home from school. Tomorrow will be very difficult for all of us.

Maddie’s last few minutes were peaceful; she had gone into congestive heart failure sometime today, and we took her to the vet tonight. She was having trouble breathing, and the vet heard fluid on her lungs. When he gave her injections to ease her pain and try to control her breathing, she had two spasms, looked at my wife Ashley, and expired.

I look into the sky tonight, and hope she looks down on us, happily playing, able to run again, and with all the kibble she can eat.

Goodnight, Maddie…

Kevin from AL

As a volunteer at my local animal shelter, I spend hours there every day and am dedicated to this cause. Through my tears of reading Saving Sprite I was so happy to read that Mr. Levin had learned of the great gifts of adopting AND especially the secret gifts of adopting senior pets. It is an incredible gift to the animal, but even more to those that chose this route. Congratulations! And thank you for spreading the message. The heartbreak is worth the love!!!!

Carrie from OH

I have a rescuing story for you but it is different from your story. In 1999 I bought a beautiful German Shepherd from a breeder in Missouri who imports his shepherds from Germany. Lani was her name and every where I went in my pickup people would stop and look at her. At this time I lived in our home on the Patuxtant. We then sold the house so I moved back to my home ijn Rockville. After a few weeks we realized we could not keep Lani in a cage and she did not have the 5 acres to roam. We saw a German Shepherd rescue was to be held at Petsmart. We took Lani and she was the star of the shop. A family with a teenage daughter kept stopping by. Later we got a call from the rescue group that they wanted to adopt Lani. It broke our hearts but she went to the best loving family there is. We still miss her.

Before Lani we had an American Eskimo that was our baby. She lived to be about 13 years but she became so ill there was only one thing to do. We will never forget Fluffy. Thanks for your book. I cry every time I read it.

Wayne from MD