Hello!!! I just finished the book Rescuing Sprite. It was such a sweet story, both heartwarming and heartbreaking. You are so brave to have gone through that all with a dog you are so close to. I know how you must have felt. I have two dogs who I am very close to. Amber is my nine-year-old Golden Retriever who has lived with us since I was one year old. She is still very healthy and shares many of Sprite and Pepsi’s interests and antics. Lilly, my six-month-old black lab puppy, is crazy and sweet. She loves walks, treats, food, and attention, like all dogs. Mark, I share your love of dogs and understand your sadness. But I am so happy you wrote the book. Best wishes to your family this winter (and that definitley includes dogs!).

Julia from VT

I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite. What a wonderful tribute to a loyal friend. I have to tell you that I bught the book because it reminds me of my story. Except my buddies name is not Sprite, but Charlie. We adopted Charlie almost 6 years ago. Even though we went to the shelter to get a puppy for a companion to Bubba our other dog, Charlie is who we picked. Though, I think it’s really Charlie that picked us. To make a long story short Charlie’s real name was Chopin. Regal name for a 6yr old dog that was abused by his previous owner. When our vet met Charlie she got tears in her eyes and said how lucky he was that we adopted him, under the condition he was in, most people would not have. We would be lucky to have 2 yrs at best with him.

Well almost 6 yrs later, he is laying by my feet as I write this. His legs dont hold him as good as they used to (nerve damage from his previous life) and sometimes he forgets where he is. But he is such a good boy. From the moment Charlie came home, he fit in like he was always with us. Bubba taught him to eat raw hides, to beg, to smile and to know that this was and is his home. I know Charlies time with us grows more limited as days, months go by. My prayer is that we will have him at the 6 yr mark. As I want him to have had 6 years of love with us, opposed to his first 6 years spent with someone who didn’t realize what they had. My goal is to write a book about Life with Charlie, who says you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Or should I say, old dogs can teach us new tricks. He is a beautiful soul that has brought so much to me and my family. Thanks Mark for sharing your story, and as I said earlier, I hope one day to share Charlie’s.
Warm Regards

Robbi from WI

I just finished reading your book in 2 1/2 hours while my 17 yr. old retriever mix, Josh slept at my side. I cried like a baby! Josh is still going but has had a few health problems lately so I know the time is nearing when I’ll have to say good-bye.

Your book has helped me to accept that moment and hopefully deal with it with strength, love and grace. God Bless you and your family, Mark…and God Bless Sprite. His spirit lives on and continues to touch lives he never even knew. He certainly touched ours. I feel like I knew him…and I see alot of Sprite in Josh as Josh grows older. Thank you again…you gave us dog lovers a beautiful gift by sharing your story with us.

Jim from IL

We put our rescued suzie, bichon frise,to sleep on friday dec. 14.  I found rescuing sprite as it was in barnes and noble tryin gto find a journal to chronicle suzie’s life. We had her for 11.5 yrs. She had health problems a lot like sprite did, but was joyous and fun.

Many thanks,

Lynn from PA

I purchased Grizzly as a 4 month old full blooded Rotty back in 1994 from a pet shop in Illinois.
He was bought to help me get over a fear of Rottwieller’s that I had. I was attacked by a Rotty in the 80’s and thus began my fear.

Grizzly from the very beginning claimed me as his. I raised him for the first 5 years of his life in a tractor trailer, and he was the ultimate alarm system. Many happy stories about having him in the truck, and also many sad stories.
Within the first year of his life in the truck Grizzly had come down with 3 viral infections that left his bowels in a terrible state. I almost lost him 2 times, and I had to hospitalize him in whatever state we were travelling in at the time. I was afraid that I was going to have to put him down.

God was with Grizzly and I, and we were able to continue our life as a family for several years. He did so many of the usual dog things like tangle with skunks and other wildlife, and he usually ended up with the worst side of the confrontations. (more…)

i had gotten a shih tzu named gizmo when he was 6 weeks olds in 1990 he weigh 3 lbs 2 ozs a little guy he was the love of my life besides my 2 sons and husband.he was such a joy.he died in my arms on feb 4th 2005 he was 15 yrs old and he suffered a stroke he couldnot eat or drink he fought to live but i prayed to God to please take him because i could not do it myself to take him to the vet.i carried that dog every where i went and and God answered my prayer

Gizmo died in my arms he took his last breath in my arms 3 days after he had the stroke.my heart broke i cried and nothing matter to me.he was my baby i would come home from work and cook him hotdogs and eggs at 2 am.and he loved to take walks he would wait for me.hes buried in my backyard under his dogs house.i have angels surrounding it with a cross. i have gotten another dog the same kind a shih tzu and his name is also gizmo and he helpled heal my broken heart.

So yes dogs love us no matter what.i know one day i will be with him again when i cross over that rainbow bridge where he waits for me he will meet me there.God love you Mark for letting us express our pain in our hearts.thank you

Lynda from OH