I have been a dog lover since my early childhood and over my 50 years of life I have been adopted and lost several dogs. Eric, my first child was a full blood German Shepherd that I raised from birth and due to many family moves I had to give him up but still visited him until I was informed of his death. Now I have Molly, a Beagle/Spaniel that was given to me and Honey, a Pit Bull that was given to me by a friend at work. Honey is a hyperactive snuggler and Molly is also a loving puppy of 10+ years. Both are extremely affectionate and have adopted me and given me so many fun times. Molly’s time is short and her passing will be a hard time. Honey, hopefully will fill that gap when it happenes but nonetheless, Molly will be missed beyond measure. I cannot read minds, but I can see by the actions of Molly and Honey that there is a love that is really unconditional and complete.

Jon from KY

I just finished reading your heartfelt story about Sprite and relived all of the emotions I experienced with the loss of my ever-faithful border collie mix, Shep, in March. Fortunately, I did not have to make the decision of when I was going to let him go as he passed away while I was out of town and having our neighbor care for him. I was guilt-ridden that I lost him without being there to hold him and say the things you were able to say to Sprite and look into his dark brown eyes one more time. He had always been there for me and I wanted to do the same. I have to believe that God wanted to spare me from vision I would have had or maybe even Shep was wise enough to know that I would not have wanted to see him any other way than his usual frisky self. Even though his heart was giving out in his twelfth year, he always appeared to look and act like a young pup. His best pal, Seamus, grieved for weeks after Shep’s passing and misses him as much as we do. The walks on the golf course are not the same, the places where he napped are empty and there has been no “devil runs” in the house since he’s been gone.

I sent an e-mail to my friends who knew and loved Shep after he died and have attached it. It brought me a little relief as I’m sure your book brought to you and many others. (more…)

Hi Mark,
I listen to you each day on my drive home here in New Mexico. I am a schoolteacher and with a childhood filled with asthma I did not have many pets at all until we moved from Brooklyn to a larger home in upstate New York. Astaire was our very first family dog. He was found in a paper along the side of the road with another dog the humane society named Ginger. Well he was a rotweiler mix and just adorable. He did not live for but 2 years due tot the fact that from the abuse and a condition his legs gradually got worse until he was in so much pain and could not walk anymore without simply dragging his back end. We had to give him to the Lord after such a short time with us. Champ, a black lab mix, found us, at the Humane Society after we had just put down our first dog Astaire. He was so active and bubbly we almost did not get him. I was 13 at the time and my brother was 10 and my parents did not want to add a hyperactive dog to the mix, but like I said he picked us. He became such an important member of our family waiting for us to come home from work or school and always there to dash to the door when we said the word “walk”. He lived a great life for 11 years with us until he got sick with a tumor and had to be put down. It was one of the worst days of my life. My dad had to go and bring him to the vet because no one else was strong enough to do it but him. He had to be strong for all of us – we had so many nicknames for him, but “champsy” was what we called him the most. (more…)

Toby isn’t a rescue dog in the true sense of having come from a shelter, but he came from a pet shop and I’ve come to think that’s pretty much the same thing. He came “pre-sick.” When I got him, he weighed a little less than four pounds. Two days later he was obviously ill, and the vet said he had pneumonia, hospitalized him, and put him on a combination of medications. Two days later they let him come home, and he was lethargic and way too quiet for a little puppy. Then he stopped eating and drinking. There was another trip to the vet and another hospitalization in the ICU. He was down to 3.2 pounds. My sister went with me when we picked him up, and I remember the doctor telling me to give him lots of TLC. My sister remembers him saying that there was nothing else he could do for Toby, and TLC was all that was left. I must have filtered that part out. (more…)

Dear Mark
I really enjoy your show, and have really enjoyed you talking about your dogs. I’ve never had dogs until about a year ago when my wife and I took in a little Pom that needed a home and is 11 years old with a few health problems. Her name is Misha and she is just the best dog. I’m a former marine and always considered myself pretty tough but Misha is like a little grandchild almost she just has captured our hearts and we love her so much. We were fortunate to be able to adopt another Pom that was the same age but was really mistreated and almost blind and deaf his name was Pace but we usually called him Forrest because he wasn’t very bright but he was so nice. We loved him so much. Anyway my wife called me early one morning, I’m a truck driver and on the road alot but she called me crying and said Pace had to go to emergency He was gasping for air The vet did all the tests and Pace was dying his heart was be crushed from a massive growth and so we had to have him put down. Mark I know how you feel I feel the same It hurts now to talk of it he was such a nice dog and we loved him I never cry but I did for Pace. And I still tear up when I think of him. I really think God gave us these wonderful animals to teach us about unconditional love. They never whine and complain they just love us. Thanks Mark God bless you my friend

Jim from MT

My parents always complained about the cost and liability of owning a dog until we got Otis. Otis was a Bichon Frise and we had him as a puppy in 1990 when I was in 5th Grade. Although there were good time, there seemed to be far more traumatic times before college, but when I would get home from school Otis would always be there wagging his tail and ready to lick my face raw. When I would get sick or hurt he would always be there by my side as if he wanted to nurse me back to health. (more…)