Dear Mr. Levin,
After hearing you on “The Sean Hannity Show” and “The Laura Ingraham Show” I had to write. Honestly, sir, you brought tears to my eyes both times. I, too, have had the pleasure of having rescue dogs. The joy they have brought into my life is without measure.

My first rescue dog, Peanut, was a six-pound, older-than-dirt stray from the SPCA. So tiny she had to be caged in with the cats, Peanut ended up saving my soul. When my husband and I adopted her I was rather depressed and just “out of sorts” with life. While we only had her about a year and a half before we had to make that awful decision to put her to sleep, the pleasure and comfort I got from her will last a lifetime.

After Peanut’s death, I spent most of my waking hours either overcome with gut-wrenching sobs or trying to avoid same. The grief was almost too much to bear. (more…)

About 15 years ago, my wife, Arlene, had a Shih Tzu named Pepper who gave birth to two pups, one of which died at birth. Arlene kept the surviving puppy, which she named Katie Scarlett, for six months until she could find just the right home. She finally found someone, a neighbor of Arlene’s sister who was living in a New York City apartment house.

Over the years, Arlene kept in touch with Katie Scarlette and her new master. Twelve years after giving Katie Scarlett to her new owner, Arlene went by the apartment house one day and asked the doorman how they were doing and learned that Katie Scarlett’s master had just died a few days before and that the dog was shuffled off to some one in Brooklyn, a friend of the deceased lady, who really did not want to keep Katie Scarlett.

When Arlene took a trip to Brooklyn to see that lady, she found Katie Scarlett in bad shape, unkempt, jittery and bewildered. The lady was more than happy to get rid of the dog, so Arlene took it home to live with us.

That’s how, after a hiatus of 12 years, Arlene got her “puppy” back. Katie Scarlett lived with us happily for two more years before we had to put her down. Even though she was with us for only two years, they were happy ones for us and for Katie Scarlett, and we miss her just as much as if we had her all that time.

Jim from NY

Mark,
Thank you so much for getting the country talking about and reflecting on the importance of our relationships with our pets. I am currently blessed to have dogs number 4,5 & 6 in my home and have stories a-plenty for all of my furry friends but I won’t try to compete with a book length post. In order dogs I have had in my life starting as age seven are: Sweet Pea, a black ter-a-poo named after the 60’s song. Sunshine, a sheltie-chocker spaniel mix that my wife Linda and I called our first born. Katie, a pure sheltie who was Linda’s protector and comfort in the final years with Sunshine. Darcy, a rescued stray from the shelter that is the sweetest and smartest dog I’ve ever known. Misty, a pure Sheltie we had promised to buy three days before Darcy came along. And Chief, a Chihuahua that had been dropped out in the middle of nowhere about two miles from my house which is the closest shelter of any kind out there. We only found Chief because there where vultures circling overhead. (more…)

Like lots of people, I have many friends. They come; they go, and that’s alright. But, I have a best friend who happens to be my little pup, BJ. She’s a 3-year-old pomeranian who is full of life and energy. Despite my sister having terrible dog allergies, my mom thought it was a good idea for me to have a pup (I don’t like the word “Dog”) and she and my father got me BJ one February day three almost three years ago. I don’t have any children and I think my mom wanted BJ to fill that hole in my heart from not having children of my own. Boy, was she right! The first words out of my mouth when my mom handed BJ to me was “I love you, I love you!” From that day on I have never smiled so much, laughed so much, been more happy, and less stressed. We go on walks each and every day. She is the joy of my life and I love her with all my heart. Each night when I go to bed and every morning when I leave for work I cup her little head in my hands and tell her “Always and forever; and, I’ll never, ever let you go.” She doesn’t do any tricks, but learned how to sit and lay down (which she learned in puppy school). She forgot all the other tricks they taught her, but that’s okay because I just want a buddy, not a trick dog. (more…)

My 15 yo golden retriever, Hugger, passed away this Labor Day weekend while swimming at a lake – not overly exerting himself, but still with mitral valve prolapse disease, I should have known better. I’m sure his heart sputtered a bit and then stopped. I’ve dealt with his death, but not the guilt over that and for pretty much ignoring him the last 2 days of his life, because I was too busy with STUFF. When I think of him, I only remember him how he died, and I needed to get past that. That’s one reason I read your book. I thought it might help me, and it has. (more…)

When I went to this website and saw Sprite’s picture, I can understand your immediate and deep attachment. And so it was with our most recent pal, Jake.
We “found” Jake through a lady in Salado, Texas, who helps rescue Golden Retrievers, in particular. Earlier in 2006 we had to put to sleep our fourth dog during our 39 years of marriage, a sweet mutt we obtained through a shelter. (more…)