This is a picture of Mumzie, a border collie mix my wife talked me into adopting at our local Petsmart in May 2004.  That particular day, our 16 year old son was teasing my wife relentlessly calling her “mumzie” with a British accent.   It was a weekend and we generally would spend the days window shopping at the local malls.  We ended up at the Petsmart to buy cat food.  The local SPCA was holding it’s pet adoption that day and were camped out front of the store with about 20 dogs.  The kids and my wife stopped to admire them while I went into the store to buy the “cat” food.   Although reluctant, I agreed to this little bundled my wife presented to me in her hands in the middle of the store.  But agreed I did and with amusement, my son suggested MUMZIE for her name.  I have had dogs all my life and actually spent 3 years as a K-9 officer with our local police department.  It had been about 3 years between our last family dog and that day.  (Our beagle “bandit” who had died 3 years earlier is a whole other story)  Mumzie, immediately took to me and would follow me everywhere.  Although she was only 6-7 weeks old, she didn’t need any house breaking.  She took to her kennel without any trouble and never once, whined or cried.  She instantly got along with our cats, who adopted her as well.  I knew she was special.
I never knew how much she would mean to me, which is the rest of the story.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was suffering from a bone marrow condition.  The aches and pains, fatigue and general malaise, I contributed to just getting old. By June 2004, one month later, I was in the hospital with a life threatening and career ending platelet count under 5000.   After a week of treatment and blood transfusions, I was stable enough to go home but with instructions “not to do anything”, even drive in a car.  The risk of any kinds of trauma was still too great.  Any injury could kill me.   Needless to say, I was in a deep depression, while at the same time, thankful to be alive.  Mumzie was a big part of that.  While the wife worked and the kids were at school, Mumzie was my constant companion.  She never left my side,  (a still doesn’t) and made the hours spent at home bearable.  Friends and family really don’t know how to act in those types of situation and although they would  willingly come to help, it is stressful to be “fussed” over.  I would actually sneak out the house to take her for her walks. (against doctor’s order no less) To this day (8 years later) we walk every day, twice a day.  We are a regular fixture in our neighborhood.  I am convinced the walks saved my life.  Not just for the physical exercise but also for what would took place in July 2005.    At that point, doctors were discussing the necessity of a bone marrow transplant since the ordinary treatments being tried were not working effectively.  That transplant would require three months of seclusion in the hospital’s clean rooms since I would have to undergo total body radiation that would kill my immune system.  After all of the prep work was completed, I was to meet with the doctor to schedule the actual transplant.  In the course of that meeting, the doctor felt impelled to remind me that there was only a 50/50 chance this would work, but he also wanted me to understand that after the 3 months, I would still have to go home to a “sterile” house which meant no pets.   I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t abandoned Mumzie!  After much deliberation, I postponed the transplant indefinitely.  That was July 2005.  One month later, August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit, flooding the very hospital I was scheduled to be secluded in.  The very hospital that hospital staff abandoned patients to die.  That is a true story!   Thankfully, with a lot of prays, exercise, dieting and mega doses of a vitamin formula I found, I am in remission.  In 2007, after 22 years of marriage, my wife and I separated and later divorced,  She readily admits part of the reason was because of Mumzie.  Be that as it may, no one will ever understand what Mumzie means to me.  It goes beyond simply her being  a man’s best friend and companion.  Don’t know how to explain it.  I am tearing up as I write this.  She means that much to me!  I hope my story will inspire someone to take home their “special” companion.

— Conan from New Orleans, LA

My dog Buster died on July 7, 2011, after a great life. He was almost 16 years old. He was born October 5, 1995, 100 years and one day after silent screen comedian Buster Keaton.  Like The Great Stone Face, my Buster was often running — he didn’t smile — and he wasn’t much of a talker. But he understood everything I said to him, his face and eyes told you everything you needed to know.  I know someday we’ll meet up again.

— Edward from Morganville, NJ

This is JoJo.  I found him homeless and wandering the streets in a neighboring town about 4 months ago.  He had to have a couple of benign masses removed early on, had arthritis in his spine, and had loss considerable muscle mass, but seemed reasonable healthy, given all things considered.  When it turned really cold he had difficulty walking soI had to carry him up and down the steps twice a day so he could use the bathroom.  I thought if I just got him through the winter, he could have a good summer.  However, he developed tumors in his belly and throat.  Last night he stopped eating, this morning he could barely walk.  So, after consulting with our  vet and considering his age and the pain he was suffering, I let him go.  Its amazing how much he touched my life in just four months.  I’m going to miss him greatly.

— Dianne from Eva, AL

Gizmo, or Gizzie as we have come to call him, was a gift from my sister and I to my Mom when whe was Dxd with cancer.  He is a purebred shih-tzu we got from a family who had bred their two shihtzus for the first time.  What a joy he brought to her! Unfortunately, her surgery left her unable to play and train with him, so my hubby and I who live next door, took that job over. He trained very well, but his favorite part of the day was to get up in Moms lap at the end of the day, curl up in the smallest ball he could and sleep with her.  If she was in too much pain, he sat at her feet fully ready to investigate anyone coming near her:) He was a 9lb guard dog of sorts!  Sadly, my Mom passed suddenly in Sept, after a sleepover with my son, Jack, myself and, of course, Gizzie.  I take comfort knowing her last night on Earth was spent in a family “sleepover” of sorts, with Gizzie curled up right next to Mom.  He lives full time with us now, but with my Dad still next door, he loves to go and visit everyday and I wonder if he is still looking for her…This dog has brought SUCH JOY to us not ONLY when Mom was here, but AFTER – by always giving us a laugh or two when we most needed it.  I just LOVE him!!

— Laura from Quincy, MA

I bought Nana, a beautiful Sheltie pup, for my beloved Susan almost 15 years ago. Nana quickly became a source of unconditional love for each member of our family and, over the years, all of the many guest we’ve had in our home joined us in our equal love foe her. To us, Nana was not an animal but a member of our immediate family. Nana suffered from severe hip dysplasia for the last few years, but we were able to keep her reasonably comfortable and active for a dog her age via pain meds until this past week, at which time her legs could no longer support her weight. Mark, during our last few hours with Nana I believe I finally came to understand the pain you endured as you lost your dear friends, one by one. I remember crying during one of your broadcasts as you shared your story with us over the air, thinking at the time that I knew how you must feel. Last night, as Nana was put to sleep while her head was cradle in my wife’s hands, I felt as if the very will to live was sucked right out of me. Though Nana fell gently to sleep after being sedated and the vet assured us that she was not going to suffer any pain, the pain in our hearts wrought from having to make such a horrible decision only seems to have grown over the past 22 hours. Today, I returned home from work to find only three babies, rather than the four who usually greet me at the front door. I made my way to the kitchen cupboard and, by habit, proceeded to draw four Beggin’ Strips from the bag, only realizing what I’d done when I turned to see only three jumping for their snacks. I’d always given Nana her treat first….. my heart is broken. So, I have a few questions, my friend. How can a 54 year old man be strong for his family when he’s lost one of the best friends he’s ever had? Does the pain ever end? Do you think Nana will forgive us for putting her to sleep?

— Danny from Houston, TX

Today is Thursday, February 16, 2012. My little man Max passed away exactly 4 weeks ago tonight at about 7:45 pm. Sadly I had left about an hour earlier to go to a meeting. Initially I was upset that he passed all alone but the reality is that he wasn’t alone. I had the radio on so the last words that my Max heard before his heart gave out were that of Mark Levin. I say this as being a good thing.

Max was a short-haired smooth Dachshund who was born on June 19, 1998. He had a good life who went virtually everywhere with me. He loved the car…and more importantly, he loved being with his daddy.The last 18 months of Max’s life were altered dramatically. Max had an accident and fell off of my deck and 11 feet down to the ground. He had surgery, physical therapy and then we tried acupuncture at a Holistic veterinarian which we went to every Saturday. After doing that for many, many months we came to the conclusion that he would never walk again. His hind legs were paralyzed. That was a sad reality. I did end up getting a cart through a great company that makes only these products. He was resistant when I first put him in the cart but then he realized that he could get around on his own. Sadly, he only got a couple of months use from the wheels. His cart was purchased by a person who had a dog in need so the cart will continue to help a needy dog in Bowling Green Kentucky. I just checked and UPS just delivered it about 2 hours ago.That puts a smile on my face.

I have great memories and miss him every minute. My life was enriched and has now been drastically changed. Max required a lot of my time in the end and I wish he was still requiring my time but it will never again be. I am just glad that he was listening to you, Mark Levin, as he was passing into doggy heaven. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to write this.
John-East Islip, Long Island, NY