Your beautiful story has touched my life so much that I had to write to you. About seven years ago my husband Kevin, son Kyle and I lost our beloved yellow lab named Chesty Puller. (It’s a Marine thing). We had to put him to sleep after his health started failing. The night before we had to bring him to the vet, Chesty was laying on the floor in our bedroom. Our son kyle was about eight. We told him to hug Chesty and say goodbye. The next day the Vet was kind, he let us have as much time as we needed to say goodbye. Kevin and I were right there with him when the Vet put him down. I don’t regret doing that. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. He was like our child. Even still today, our family cherishes all the special memories of our beautiful Chesty. Thank you for all you do. God Bless Sprite. God Bless you.

P>S> We now have our third Chesty. Another yellow Lab. Now I know there are lot’s of people out there just like us who love our animals this way. Thanks Mark

Pam from NY

Scott found you as an abandoned and abused puppy. When you were new to us, you would hide your face between my arm and side and stay very still for a few minutes. As your health and confidence grew, that habit faded away and was forgotten.

We shared our lives together for eleven years. You were the least demanding dog we have ever been blessed to live with and love. It was as if you were so thankful to have a home that you didn’t want to be a lot of trouble.

Over the last few months we watched as day by day, life became increasingly difficult for you. One late night, while we were outside, you walked up and hid your face between my arm and side and stayed very still for a few minutes. Memories of your days as a puppy seeking comfort came back to me. I knew what you were saying. Thank you for staying with us as long as you could, for the gift of time to say goodbye. You were giving until the end. Thank you for love, loyalty, and happiness.

Rest in peace good buddy, you will live in our hearts.

Love,
Ann and Scott from GA

I bought 6 copies and it is a treasure. I have 3 sisters – we are all nurses and love animals.We have dogs and cats and everyone gets along. Pookie, the pooch 10 yrs, who looks just like Griffin had both hind legs repaired this summer. He is my love and when my sister says Aunt Jeannie is on the phone his tail and body shiver and he howls
out joy. We recently had to put 2 stray cats we took in to sleep. We kept Oliver and Pearl alive and happy for 6 months but they got very sick with leukemia and we had to do what you did. I had a stray, I adopted from the hospital boiler room, named Bluie for 21 yrs my heart was so heavy when I had to take him in. He knew put still purred and looked at me adoringly when I held him in my arms.

My Bluie 21 yrs, Sloopy 20 yrs and Fay Ray 18 yrs are all gone to heaven. I have all their ashes and they will go with me when it is my time. I have Emma now, I adopted her from a shelter when she was 3 yrs – she is 10 now and brings my husband and me absolute joy. Mark, why don’t you ad a feline to your family. Russ has Punkin and he loves her. You are a most wonderful man – I feel as if you are part of my family. You are always on my radio. I have had the honor to speak with you twice. my husband says I am a celeb since I spoke to you. Please remind people who adopt to make sure they are able to care for a cat or dog before they take them home. Sometimes these sweet animals don’t wind up in loving homes. Emma sleeps between me and my husband Michael every nigght. She actually kisses us good night on our nose. It doesn’t get any better that that. God Bless you and your family. Take care, this county needs you.

Jean from NY

Approximately 25 years ago I was given a deliteful present from my brother and his best friend, the pick of the litter of registered black labs. I took him home the 1st day he could eat solid food, he wasn’t even weaned yet. I finished weaning him and he became my constant shadow, going with me to work and over most of the country. When he was almost a year old, I was in a bad car wreck that really messed up my back and I was out of work for a couple of years. I was able to spend alot of time with him then. At the time I lived on a straight country road and there was always trash being thrown out in front of my house. When I was able to get up and move about, I would go out and try to pick this trash up. Saikor ( my pals name) would be beside me every step of the way, knowing the pain I was in. I would try to reach down to pick the stuff up and he realized what I was trying to do. Before long, he was picking it up and handing it to me so i wouldn’t have to bend over.
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My story is about my beloved Petey, my lovebird. His parents were captured after being let go by some irresponsible people….he was one of 5 that I adopted…he was with me for 7 years, and then I came home one day only to find him dead in the bottom of his cage…I was devastated. He was a wonderful pet, believe it or not..affectionate, funny, loving and a great companion….he survived almost losing a toe, eating creme rinse and terrible allergies….I have had other pets but he was the first to die in my care….so now I have a cat named Sammie who I rescued from a shelter…she is 10 now and just as you said in your book, I am watching and waiting for any sign of illness….she is my little baby, and my 86 year old father who lives with me loves her dearly as well…..she is just like a dog in that she looks to us to play and love her and follows us around the house….I want to enjoy the rest of her life and not have this anticipatory worry….I almost finished reading your book and love it, but I really couldn’t stop crying…I felt as though I were there with you….I am looking forward to your Dec 1st booksigning….sorry for going on so, but like you, these animals are my babies….

Nancy from NJ

This is a story for people who love pets. It begins with the lost of our family cat, Flower. She had grown up with our children and after fourteen years, God reclaimed her love. In the emptiness that followed, we soon found ourselves with a standard poodle puppy named Shasta. For those not familiar with the standard poodle breed, they are one of the most intelligent, known to have an intellect level approaching a five-year-old child. They are filled with energy, love, very emotional and capable of passing on wisdom. Here goes my story.

Shasta had high energy and a strong will. Capable of jumping my six-foot fence, she began her life eager to run free, play with the children of the neighborhood and quickly fill the void in our hearts. Shasta bonded to us so quickly that within a few short years, she became our third child. My family and I were not prepared for how quickly Shasta left us. On a short family vacation, we had placed her in a kennel where she contracted a virus. An incompetent veterinarian gave Shasta a sedative during an examination and walked away. Her loving heart stopped and we were a family grieving again. I was angry with God for the futility and pain of finding and loosing Shasta in two years and for no apparent reason other than someone’s incompetence.
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