Dear Mark…Your story is the story of all of us who have owned and lost a beloved pet.

Our two dogs…Princess and Duke (Poodles) were special friends to our family as our three children grew up. These two dogs were buddies and were our faithful friends who brought us joy, laughter and deep sorrow in their passing…As you have experienced, this was traumatic for our family.

One funny story…Duke, having gone through obedience school twice …graduated “summa cum ‘lousy'” according to the teacher…BUT Dukie was at the top of his class in gentleness, companionship and faithfulness.

We LOVE YOU MARK and we feel close to you in our love for our pets. You call us your “beloved audience and family” and YOU, Great One, are our beloved talk show host and friend.

God bless you….

Carolyn & Bob from Ohio

Just the other day, Tuesday the 6th to be exact, my wife and I were faced with that dreadful decision.
“Foster” joined our family in 1995 and announced his presence as he walked passed our sofa and used it as a fire hydrant. He quickly regained my acceptance as one of our other five family members, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 1 bird. Foster was the “Big Boy” of the house. He became my wife’s best friend as he was her guard dog and partner.
One thing about Foster, as with most large dogs, is that he was terrified of thunderstorms. I remember one stormy night I awoke with my head just drenched with sweat. I raised up wondering ‘What Tha …’ and there was Foster, all 115 pounds of him, wrapped around where my head had laid.
Foster was our best friend, teacher and companion. When my wife’s sister passed, we adopted her Dachshund. Foster taught her the ropes of our routine and whipped her into shape. Oh, she was very bad when we got her, but Foster did well with her.
Some might say that Foster was the ugliest dog they had ever seen, but how can anyone resist those large alluring eyes. Catahoulas are wonderful dogs.

This isn’t the first pet that we have had to put down, but it was different with the others. The thing that hurts the most is that Foster was still very alert and responsive. The Big Boy’s hips had just finally gotten to the point that he couldn’t even carry himself. It’s so sad that these wonderful animals don’t outlive us, but that was God’s intent. Why, I don’t know.
Foster will always be remembered and very close to our hearts. Rest In Peace Big Boy.
I thought I would share a view of our other babies. They are all very special. And of course that’s Foster on top with my distraught wife in the background along with the vet nurse to her left. Clockwise from left to right is Princess and our newest ‘Curtis’, Larry with his buffalo wing, another of Curtis, Pretty Boy in the ball cap (Should say Clinton Happens!), Boo sitting on Sally’s cage, and lastly Buster and Timmy.
Thank You Mark for bringing so passionately as you do to the forefront, the things that many people cherish and love. I am very sorry for your losses. Warning, it doesn’t get any easier.

From a great fan,

Bob from Arlington TX

Hi, I have two dogs that were headed for the pound. Nobody wanted them because they are mixed breeds (pit-bull mixed with labs). These two males got along until adulthood. Over the past 12 years, these two dogs have fought a few bloody battles! I try to keep them in seperate rooms, but three times in twelve years they have jumped on each other and the blood letting has been pretty bad! The most rescent battle was due to a faulty gate lock that enabled them to mix in the yard. These are very violent episodes that make me and my wife cry, and discuss putting them down. Despite over $4500.00 in vet bills (3 fights) to get these dogs sewn up, we relent and keep the dogs. Our love for these dogs is too strong! Believe it or not, my wife sleeps in one bedroom with Tiger, and I sleep in the other bedroom with Buddy. I never thought I would be sleeping with a dog instead of my wife!!! If we sleep together without the dogs, they cry and wimper all night until slept with. These dogs are my children! They act like children! The photo is Buddy, dont have a photo of both together.

Wayne from MD

Mark, I waited weeks and received your lovely book last weekend from Amazon. I lost my lovely little Scout, a border terrier, last April. She had just celebrated her 13th birthday but was going downhill quickly. Her epilepsy began at age 3. Despite being controlled by medication she progressed to irritable bowel and the medications slowly affected her liver and other organs.

We made many urgent trips to the vet over the years. She never complained and was my buddy sleeping on my bed. She was my solace as I lost family members to age and illness always ready to kiss my tears or just sit at my feet. She wasn’t much of a walker and I had to carry her on a 10K walk we took. She loved the car. When I got airbags in the passenger seat she was relegated to the back seat strapped in her seatbelt. She was so miffed at being put in the back seat she ignored me the whole trip. Scout eventually fell in love with the back seat and could stretch out even while hooked into the seatbelt. I grew up with dogs but never had to euthanize a pet.
(more…)

Mark, Thank you for being so special.
It will be 2 yrs on the 14th that we were faced with the decision you were faced with and not a day goes by that we don’t mourn Megan’s loss. She was 12 yrs. old and became so sick. We had two other Jack Russel Terriers and we love them dearly. Each one with their own personalities, but Megan was so special.
Since we are getting older now, we said that if anything happens to another one of our dear babies, we will adopt from a shelter. Since my son and daughter-law raised them, they couldn’t part with each litter, so they ended up with several and we ended up with 3 from different litters. I cry every evening when I listen to your show.
I hear you and your listeners talking about the same way that I feel.

The Hospital, that had taken care of her, sent me her footprint. They had taken it after she died and I didn’t know it. I received it with a ribbon tied on it and her name and date. The card that was enclosed had cats and dogs on the cover and said, “We will Always Remember Special Friends.” Each one of the doctors that took care of her signed it with a special message. I was hysterical by the time I finished reading the card. I couldn’t even think straight.
It is such a blessing how they can love us so unconditionally and ask for so little in return.

God Bless you,
Marilyn from NY

I am blessed to live with my own pack of three rescue dogs. Thank god I have a large house! The third dog was a very special case since she was totally ferral having lived wild in a cemetary.She is a red healer, which is related to the Dingo family. When I first got her four years ago she had never been in contact with people. Lucky girl. It took three years of constant training and support for my little beauty to finally adapt and trust me. She is so gorgeous and precious to me, as are my lab mix and my pit mix as well. They are the best family any single girl can have. And believe me, this is one house in Phila. that is not going to get robbed!

Phyllis from PA