Mark, I just want to thank you so much for sharing your story about Sprite, Pepsi and Griffin. I couldn’t put the book down. We had to put our Sadie (a Golden) down last March. She developed a brain tumor, cancer in her lungs, as well. As it is with dogs, we didn’t know til right at the end. I could go on forever about her. So many things that you wrote about Pepsi and Sprite’s habits and antics rang true with Sadie, as well. Such characters they are! We have a cabin in NW Wisconsin that she LOVED to go to. She loved to run, explore, swim and was a permanent fixture on the front of the boat. All you had to do was say the word “boat” and she went wild! I often wondered what it would be like not to see her on the boat anymore, wind in her face, loving every minute of it. AND how my husband would fare, walking that first time to the boat alone. We had her separately cremated, as well, and we buried her ashes under a tree at the cabin she loved. A beautiful spot… and my not-so-handy husband made a beautiful cross and burned her name into it. She is greatly missed and lovingly remembered. I am now thinking of doing volunteer work in a shelter around here. I’m struggling with it – wanting to so badly, but hoping I can handle it emotionally. Your book has inspired me to try. Just wanted to let you know. Thanks again for such a wonderful read and loving tribute. You and your family have our deepest condolences.

Dale and Deb from MN

It was 4 years ago in Oct that we had the difficult decision of saying good by to our Springer Spaniel, Maui. Previously we had 2 Cockers who both developed serious disorders and those were also tearfilled decisions. We had also lost a Cocker unexpectedly before that after a minor surgical proceedure. I was determined to not have any more dogs after Maui, but after a month of sadness, emptyness and more tears, we began to search rescue sites. We found a Border Collie who touched our hearts and at Thanksgiving time 4 years ago, Laci came to live with us. She had been found on a road in a box , bruised, infested with worms, very thin and skiddish. The rescue kept her 4 months to nurse her back to health before they put her up for adoption. It wasn’t long till she became one of the family and we all bonded in a very close way.
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Mark my dog saved my life. I suffer from depression and when I first was diagnosed (while serving in the U.S. Navy) I did not want it to accept. I told myself that after 17 years in the service I was not going out like this. While going thru this my next door neighbor’s dog (Jack Russell) had puppies. I was given one that I name Max.

Max was born on December 1, 2003. Let me say that I been married for twenty three years and we never had a dog because of all the moving we did while in the Navy. After getting Max I felt much better still one day after being told that my Navy career was over and that I was going to be Honorably Discharge with a medical disability. That was what took me to the edge; you must understand that I was a dedicated military person. This is when I really thought about killing myself. Nobody was home that day but me, I decided to do it. I took my gun, pulled it back and pointed to my head and I was just a few seconds to pull the trigger.

Right and I mean right when I was pulling the trigger my dog Max start knocking on my office door and he was making a noise that I never heard him making before, he was like crying and barking at the same time. I stop for a moment and open the door. Max jump all over me and will not stop licking me and still making the same noise. When you’re this depressed you feel like you are in a fog or unreal world. Max love and caring gave me a second of clarity is then when I realize what I was trying to do, I started shacking. Right on that moment I unloaded my weapon, put it away. After that I spent the day with Max.

From there on I went back to my counselor, took my medications and life changed. I know that Max save my life because I assure you that I was going to pull that trigger, no question about it. I know that when Max last day come it will be very, very hard for me, my kids and my wife. I haven’t told my story to anyone, not even my wife. I am sharing this with you for the first time in my life. I ordered your book way back before it was even out. I wish I had waited to get a sign copy. Thanks Mark for your strong values, for being a patriot and for showing everyone what really matters in life.

Very Respectfully
Robert

I brought Bleu home as my husband’s first dog in 1993. We took him to various RV dealers and bought one that would accommodate his needs along with ours. Just as we were about to launch upon a long trip out West, Bleu had a stroke. He was not expected to pull through, but he did. We postponed our trip, and I asked the vet for a week to see if I could rehab him. I worked on his depression, and got him back on his feet. He seemed to say, let’s give it a try! So we did. He swam in the western waters and walked the trails. He sniffed the mountain breezes and was almost back to “normal” when we returned 3 months later. A week after we returned, Bleu had another stroke and it was apparent to all he wouldn’t pull through. With the vet’s help we let him reap his heavenly reward and buried him in one of his favorite place on our property. We still get a tight throat and teary eye at most any time when his memory appears and he has been gone 2 years now.

MaryAnne & Barry  from VA

I  just finished your book and must say I shed several tears. I recieved the book yesterday from a dear lady who knows I am dealing with a cat who is in renal failure and giving her SQ fluids everyday and medications and special food. Luckily I am a veterinary technician and have the support of everyone in my clinic. My torcher is wondering if I am going to be able see when it is time to let her go. I keep thinking because I am a vet tech that I should be doing more than the average person should be doing. Not that I love her more than anyone else loves their cat/dog/animals, I just feel like I should try and try and try. It’s my job to do that. Anyway, my friend and I had a good cry yesterday morning during her appointment because she had been in the ER with her cat overnight because he became hypoglycemic and almost died. His BG was 23!!!!! He is much better now, but she tried to tell me that my kitty would let me know when she was ready to go. I hope in the end she will. I also adopted her from a shelter and this January she will be 19!!! I just wanted to say your book is amazing and I loved it.  Thanks again!!

Jackie from TX

Mark, I was so sorry to hear about your loss. Anyone who has lost a dog knows what you’re feeling right now. I thought you might enjoy this. It’s from, Of Dogs and Men, by Charles Krauthammer. It was in Time Magazine, June 16, 2003.
“Some will protest that in a world with so much human suffering, it is something between eccentric and obscene to mourn a dog. I think not. After all, it is perfectly normal, indeed human, to be moved when nature presents us with a vision of great beauty. Should we not be moved then, when it produces a vision, a creature, of the purest sweetness.”
I keep this quote with the picture of my Golden Retriever Max, who I lost twelve years ago and still miss to this day. Thanks for a great show and for all you do for all of us.

Tony from NJ