I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite today and cannot thank you enough for putting into words the way I too feel about dogs…especially shelter dogs. Eight years ago, my husband and I adopted our first dog Reggie, a mixed breed, from a local shelter. He was such an easygoing dog and he immediately became a family member (he has his own queen size bed!) Six years later, I found the website petfinder.com and located another dog (mixed breed) in foster care; he was rescued from a shelter in West Virginia. After six years with just one dog, I didn’t know how Reggie would take the addition of another dog into the family, but he accepted our newest member, Stanley, without much reservation. In fact, Stanley, I believe, has helped Reggie become even more active and playful. In May of this year, I found another mixed breed at the same shelter where we found Reggie and so, we adopted her too. After the two dogs, one more isn’t a big deal. Lucy has adapted well to her new family and it seems as if she has been here forever. I know there will be much sorrow when these blessed souls are no longer with us, but the love and joy they have brought us will be well worth it. God Bless you and your family for giving Sprite two wonderful years on Earth; so long as his memory lives, so does Sprite. We are truly the lucky ones for we have experienced the love of a dog, a love that is genuine and true. Your book will stay with me forever! Thank you for writing it!

Sincerely,
Michelle from PA

Lola is a five year old Rottweiler I adopted from the Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter (NY) when she was a year old. Most likely abandoned by her former owners, she had already had a litter. She’s smart, sweet, and devoted.

Stevan from NJ

Stanley is a three year old American Bull Dog. I found him at the Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter a few years after adopting Lola. He’s not the brightest dog, but he’s gentle, goofy, and has boundless energy, “Play some more, huh? huh?”

Here he is on the day of his arrival at his new home. A little confused, and very, very tired.

Mark – I admire your work for these wonderful animals more than I can say.

Stevan from NJ

I’m a VERY loyal listener to your radio show. This is not about me or my pet’s, a cat and an African Gray, although I must say, I have found new love and understanding for both since you started talking about rescuing sprite. No, this is about my brother, his wife and their 3 dogs. He has 2 pitbulls and one mixed, lab and something else, I don’t really know. All 3 dogs came from shelters in their area of South Jersey. The mixed is SATCH, named after one of the 3 stooges, MOXIE, and VELVETINE are the 2 pitbulls.

These are 3 of the most gentle loving dogs I have ever been around. About a year and a half ago, Velevtine was diagnosed with cancer, my brother and his wife had a decision to make, they decided to spend the money, and a lot of it, to treat Velvet. It was an emotional time for both of them, they don’t have children and these 3 dogs are their kids, there were lots of ups and downs for them during the chemotherapy process. Velvets cancer had gone into remission. About 3 weeks ago, on a routine doctor visit, they found the cancer has come back, I have not spoken to my brother about it, today is thanksgiving and we are going to his house, I’m sure it has been difficult for my brother and his wife, although I think they are going into this with a better understanding than they did when Velvet was initially diagnosed. I knew I was ordering your book for Christmas for my brother and his wife, I remembered yesterday that my brothers B-day is coming up in 2 weeks, so I ordered the signed book yesterday. I know the book will help them through this, I felt helpless in this. You have made it possible for me to do something that will help them.
While ordering the book on your website yesterday, I listened to the interview Rush had with you. Mark, You are truly blessed, you are working through so many people, helping them, I’m sure there are many of us who you will never hear from, but you have touched their lives or someone else they may know because of the book.
Now, I think your radio show is the best out there, in the beginning, when you were on locally, I would drive around on Saturdays during your show, laughing and enjoying you. Now, I laugh but your show has taken a turn for the BEST. Your passion has made a difference in my life, I have always been passionate about what I do, but you have given me a prouder understanding of that passion, for that I thank you. I thank you for being there for our troops, I thank you for your show, I thank you for your love of this great country, and I thank you for your personal love to your audience.

John from NJ

What a wonderful book! You are so right about only a dog lover could relate to your story. i cried, i laughed and shook my head and saying to myself i know what your saying. I also lost the love of my life,her name was lady and i miss her every single day. your book was so honest i held on to every word because thats exactly how i felt. i couldn’t have said it better.thank you so much for making feel

Gayle from CA

I finished reading Mark’s book about 2 weeks ago. My heart was uplifted to see another human being love his animal like we do ours. We have 4 dogs. Their names are Doogie, Pudge, Jet and Bucky. We rescued Bucky (a cocker spaniel) from a shelter around October 1, 2007. Today, November 22, 2007, we had to rush Bucky to the vet. Just as in Mark’s book, he collapsed and started going into convulsions. The vet just called and said that he has a rare bacterial infection in his intestines. With proper medication, he hopefully will pull through. I can not believe that I am going through what Mark described in his book regarding Sprite. I also am having surgery in January on my foot due to problems with planta fascia. I wanted to tell Mark that his book is helping me through this time with Bucky. Although, I have only had him, for a month and a half, I feel like he has been in our family forever. I want to thank Mark for having the courage to write this book. I am truly greatful!!!!!!!!

Stephane from FL