I had to put my cat down this morning. His name was Cirrus and he was solid white. He was remarkably healthy for almost all of his 13 1/2 years. He was loyal to me, almost as much as a dog. He always answered when I called him by name.He always greeted me when I came home. He jealously guarded my study when I was away, which was our room. He came into my life when I was 29 years old at a particularly low point in my life. Now I’m 41. I have a wife, son and most imporntantly, I have Christ in my life. But this morning, this little white cat is no longer with me and I feel devastated. I already miss those simple moments which are easy to overlook on a daily basis. Cirrus was always with me every night when I listened to The Great One on my PC in my study. I can relate to what Mark says over the guilt over not being able to do more for Cirrus. After listening to Mark tell his story about Sprite for the past few weeks, I knew that one day I would have to make the same decision for Cirrus some day. I didn’t think it would have to be so soon. This year has been incredibly difficult. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately it was caught early and she is in good health and her outlook is very good. We shall miss this spirited, playful cat whose loyalty will never forgotten.

Gene from Kentucky

On a warm summer morning, in the back of a truck
Were five lonely puppies down on their luck
They whimpered despondent . . . my daughter chose one

Moving into the household, quiet and tame
We sat in the kitchen and picked out her name
And so to my family a new member came
T’was Garbo the Wonder Dog

She was blacker than night time with four golden socks
Fat, dumb and ugly- she slept in a box
But she grew to a beauty, a floppy eared fox
Was Garbo the Lovely Dog

Over protective, but gentle as well
Sweet as molasses and meaner than hell
A vigilant guardian, and smart you could tell
Was Garbo the Noble Dog

Garbo baby, lapping a pan full of gravy
Launching her eyebrows up to the sky
And poking her nose to ask why

She was quite a young lady, she learned all the laws
Bathed every evening. She licked at her paws
With a teddy bear clenched softly inside her jaws
Sat Garbo the Mother Dog

And although she was careful, a friend without fail
She knocked over everything with her happy tail
Through man-caves and forests, and any old trail
Strode Garbo the Mountain Dog

Dog dream, dog dream . . . kicking her legs in a dog dream
Dog dream, dog dream
Jumping through fences, wading through brooks
Rooting out rabbits and tracking down crooks

An Expert on camping, she swam in the lake
She conquered Vancouver, the Bellingham Strait
And over the water,
The Canadian Gate
Sailed Garbo the Ferry Dog

All through California’s Redwoods ran the Bonz
And to the Pacific; the largest of ponds
She played on the coastline and chased off the waves
Did Garbo the Ocean Dog

She rolled in the grass, territory she’d mark
She ran off a Grizzly at Yellowstone Park
Yummy sounds from the table often led to a bark
From Garbo the Hungry Dog

She warded off thunder And snapped at the rain
But the cancer was sudden, and the answer was plain
Limping into the sunset, one journey remained for
Garbo the wonder dog

Tom from NM

We have had our share of pets. I use to kid around that we were starting our own version of Noah’s Ark! Fish whether Fresh or Salt Water, Rabbit, Canary, Our 2nd Dog & at that time our new Cat Frisky. When a Dog has a real home, especially when they have had a rough start from an abused home. What a difference it makes in there lives. When we first had Muffin in our home. I could see her scars. She was grey & white stubby legged french poodle. From what I remember being said she was tied to a tree & the male owner treated her badly. Muffin took to my Mom, sister, Me & then my Dad.
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Dear Mark: We had to put our beloved dog down this past Halloween. How fitting that your book should come out just in time. I bought 4 copies, one for my husband, who is just devastated. Everything you felt about Sprite, we felt about Brutus, our gentle Bull Mastiff. He was so sweet and his eyes were just like Sprite’s, so beautiful, big and brown. When we talked to him, we felt that he understood everything we said. He also ate grass. Giving him treats, he would gently take them from our hands, but always gummed them so as not to touch us with his teeth! We will never ever forget him. Today we got his ashes and will sprinkle them in our backyard; his playground for many years. Thank you for your beautiful book. I use to watch you on TV years ago and now watch Hannity and that is where I saw you being interviewed. I always felt that if I ever needed the perfect attorney, I would want you in my corner!

Be well and God bless you.
Patty from CA

I have been the proud owner of six basset hounds. Currently I have two rescued basset hounds, 10 yr old Will B. Hound and 5 yr.old Molly.

I have had Willie for 8 yrs. He was a replacement for another male rescue whowent on to become a TV star as the weather dog on a local channel. He would be dressed in a uyellow rain slicker and floppy rain hat with doggie boots for rainy weather, scarf, toboggan and ear muffs for snowy weather and sun glasses and a Hawaiin shirt with sun tan lotion for summer heat waves.

After fostring this hound until he could be adopted out, I cried when he left me for his forever home and quickly replaced him with Willie.
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I had my Sadie for 14 years. She was a Shepherd mix and although she looked quite fierce she was as gentle as a lamb. She had a special seat by our kitchen window and would sit there while I cooked supper everynight. She understood every word I said. One day she found me crying and she jumped up, put her paws on my shoulders and licked my face so furiously that my tears soon turned to laughter. She was a great dog in every way and we still miss her so.

Kathleen from NY