Just wanted to show the love and devotion even a Pit Bull mix can have. My sister was convinced that our new puppy Brody would eventually turn on, and attack my 6 year old… I think this photo shows how “ferocious” he really is. This is my first pit, and I have to admit I was even a bit reticent about a pit mix, but I hoped that his being half chocolate lab would even it out. Boy was I surprised! He is THE SWEETEST puppy ever. He wakes my 6 year old up for school every morning, and sleeps at the foot of our bed every night. I guess raising Pit Bulls really IS all about the owner…. SHAME ON YOU PIT BULL OWNERS WHO RAISE BAD DOGS AND GIVE THE BREED A BAD NAME!! And DOUBLE SHAME on Michael Vick! We love Brody, and he loves us. They can be wonderful dogs. Give them a chance.

Diane from TX

When I was about 10 years old, my parents brought me to a shelter to pick out a cat. I chose the prettiest and sweetest one and named her Tiffany, which quickly shortened to “Tiffy”. She insisted on being an outdoor cat, and I always worried about her when she was out. One day, upon returning from a trip with my grandma at age 12, I was greeted with some sad news. Tiffy had come home with a gunshot wound, and the vet was unable to save her. The news hit me hard, and after sitting and talking about it with my parents for a while, they said it would be best to go rest in my room. I opened my bedroom door only to find two sweet fuzzy gray & white kittens to comfort me. For the next 12 years, these sweet kitties, Toby & Brandi became members of the family. They were indoor cats, of course, and were very affectionate and loving. Brandi would even put her arm around me as if she was hugging me when i carried her around the house. They always knew when something was bothering me and knew just what to do to comfort me.

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Hershey wasn’t meant to be my dog. We had a beagle puppy named Lady who had monopolized the family’s attention. The monopoly reached a crescendo when, on a clear sunny day in Grand Ledge Michigan, Lady and I entered the garage she found the garage door open and our two daughters across the street. In sheer happiness she bolted right into the path of our neighbor’s Cadillac. Figuring the family needed a replacement I searched and found Hershey a chocolate beagle named by the daughters and then abandoned left with only me.
We spent hours in the frigid Michigan winters pursuing the genetic hardwiring inherited from parents who earned eight international and twenty-five national field trial championships. I never saw a dog more love hunting. We bonded like the stuff movies are made of.
A move to California and we still hunted and ran to the tune of 7,000 miles together until she required two ACL surgeries. We began to communicate on a sensory level and when the divorce came and a move to Singapore Hershey, after 30 days in a rat infested quarantine at 14 years of age, lost her hearing. At 16 we were headed home and even with failing kidneys she survived the 12,000 mile trip and now resides in Illinois.
Along the way we found that through the hardships we cared for each other with unconditional love. Abandoned by my children, she’s become my only source of care and I thank the Lord each day for that privilege.
When she was dying from kidney failure in Singapore I sat with her and reflected how a dog is so special. When our parents leave us we only remember them as adults. But with our dogs we are blessed to know them as adorable puppies, mischievous adults and inseparable companions in their senior years. That’s my Hershey and thanks to Hershey’s inspiration, I’m here to write this story.

Ted from IL

After getting sick last year on Christmas eve I took Voy our German Shepherd to the animal ER, he was diagnosed with an inner ear problem that caused him severe dizziness and nausea, they kept over night and made him comfortable. At almost 16 the chances of him recovering from this were very slim so I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, late Christmas day I picked him up to spend one last night with him. On December 26 I took him to his vet, at 12:14 p.m. Gods finger touched Voy’s shoulder and he went to sleep forever as I held him in my arms. I know he’s in a better place now, guarding Heavens gates as only he can, but God I miss him, he truly took a part of me with him.
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Dear Lord,
Thank you for my mama. You know the one, my human mama. She picked me! How awesome is that. She could have easily chosen another, but she heard me calling to her. She cuddled me on the way home instead of leaving me in the carrier, and gave me the most special foods that night to make me feel welcome. She has given me a new family and they are still unsure about me, but i think everything will be ok because my mama is there to keep me safe.

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Thank you for my mama. She constantly tells me I am beautiful and perfect even though I know I have flaws. Only you, Lord, are perfect, but mama says that my flaws are what make me perfect. I don’t understand that but I guess that is what true love is about.
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11 years ago 1 month after my wife and i got married we brought home a bundle of joy a boxer we called scout. he was so special to us we did everything together he even slept in our bed. 2 years latter our son was born this changed the dynamics of our household but scout adjusted wonderfully and he became best friends and protector of my son. he was a great companion through the years. in aug. 12/ 07 my precious 30 year old nephew was killed in a motorcycle accident 2 days latter as i was preparing to go to my nephew’s veiwing my scout just died he didn’t suffer he was just old but i haven’t really been able to grieve although he is missed dearly everytime i think about losing scout my thoughts go to the lose of my nephew. it’s a difficult situation for us. thank you mr.Levin for this forum and your book.

Bill from TX