I live in a household with nine cats and at one time two dogs. We live in the country and unfortunately irresponsible people find this area a preferred place to dump unwanted pets. With the exception on one cat we took in from a friend all the rest have been animals that have strayed up to our house or we have found wandering around this area.

One day about seventeen years ago a stray dog wandered up to our house. We had been living here about a year at the time and already had a dog and five cats. I didn’t really want to take in another animal but I couldn’t bring myself to be mean to this dog. We fed her and let her stay in the yard. She became our dogs, a pit bull that I raised from a puppy, best buddy. The pit bull was another rescue from a guy that lived next door to a friend. He was going to drown all the pups from his female pit bull. I named the pit bull Hammer because his head, when he was a pup was the shape of an anvil. We raised Hammer with love and kindness and had no intention of turning him into a mean dog. He was a great dog and never bit anyone. He loved playing with kids and was never too rough with them. In fact I was often amazed how much patients he had with kids because they sometimes got pretty rough with him. (more…)

I received this email, and had to forward it to you, Mark. I dont know this family, but knew you would enjoy it. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith , ‘ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Tommy from NC

Reading these very touching posts makes me cry. I do this because I know someday I will too lose one of my best and sweetest friends, Bear. He is a black lab we have had since he was 6 weeks old. He is 5 years old now and I pray we have many more years with him.

I have three children, all boys, who love him and are growing up with him. Thank you, Mark, for offering a place for us to go and share. God Bless.

Kelly from KY

Mr Levine, Have your Book.
Hard to start this story, I was 8 and my Father wanted a new Austin heally, * mm world on roles of a Bell and Howell on a screen projector!
Well Brick the Boxer was aboutrange to a giraff dragging me all over the yard like a rag doll with a wrist in a leash/ Gone (I got Punished for taking the dog out, with out Mom’s permission) well she Knew I loved the dog so I was allowed to bring it into my room, Brick crapped on the center of my Bed! I was trying to follow rules!
sold 4 days later Dad Came Home!

Toby a mix bread Is now in my Life , and My Pilot Father has moved….. I can’t type the next 2 dogs! all gone never lived with them???
But ANDY BOY CAME AFTER ARNIE . thats the killer!
Love your Book I need to see keys o type 1/1 story!

Argo from GA

Dear Mark: We are thinking of you on this day, and are reminded of the great sadness we all must experience on the days our much loved pets leave us. Reading your book brings me to tears, as do the stories I read on your web site that others have shared with each other. Your book has brought people from around the world together in the common bond of loving and then losing our animal friends who have meant so much to all of us.You read my earlier story about our cat Penny who died on April 12, 2006. Your book has shown me that the grief I felt on that awful day is the same that so many others have felt on their awful day. Thank you, Mark, for “Rescuing Sprite”

Colleen from IL

Mark,
It’s me breathing down your back, lead the charge, I am ready to kick some butt (being nice here) and if necessary with a half dozen Repub..la…cans and starting with “The Body” H. Reed…one of the Traitors, after we finish him we’ll tell T. Kennedy to shut up and if he misunderstands and stands up we’ll whip his butt. Next we’ll look for little Dicky Durbin. I am past ready for the Republicans to get some backbone.

Now, Sprint…I know the loss you suffer by losing him. I am in my twilite years, spent 6 years in the US Navy..submarine sailor. Just before I left for my last patrol my Mother-in-law gave me and the wife a heinz 57 varity puppy which we named Paws (his feet were big for his size and he looked like a small German Shepard), he lived about 15 years…he was a smart dog. Because of his failing health we had to put him down, we brought his body home, both of us weeping as we left the Vets office. I was always fortunate enough to be able to bring my Pets home for burial. Not without plenty of tears. Next we got this beautiful Irish Setter, this happened about 3 years before we lost Paws, we were moving to the beach area and I seen Prince (the Irish Setter) playing near a ditch in the old neighborhood and he was a little on the skinny side and I told the wife that he was going to the beach with us. (more…)