Hi,

I’ve been going through some tough times with my dog, Binky. She’s 14 1/2 years old and sick with cancer. I don’t have to tell you how hard it’s been. She’s so tough it’s like she’s pushing ahead out of fear that I’ll be upset. She never lets it get the best of her and she’s always got that lick (bath actually) for me.

I’m dealing with the loss of our cat, he was 7, and that’s been just devasting. I took care of him since he was 2 weeks old. He had feline leukemia and epilepsy. He was basically asymptamatic thanks to the meds, but his loss was a shock to us. He got sick on a Saturday and passed away that Tuesday. While I never thought of him as my ‘baby” I do realize that he was as close to one a I’ll probably ever have.

You said you were so devastated you almost stopped working. I’m so lost that sometimes I can’t imagine how I’m going to go on without him. I’m not alone in this but the pain is so that I can really feel my heart breaking.

Thank you for listening.

Kelly from New York

How I met my best friend.
In 1996, I worked the overnight shift at a local grocery store. One night, while on my way home, I came around a sharp curve in the road and had to stop very short to avoid hitting a stray dog. This poor animal wasn’t trying to run away, or even move from the road. I pulled the car off the road; he stopped and just stared at me. I opened up my passenger side door and said “come on boy, let’s go” to my complete surprise, he ran over and jumped into my car! I took a good look at him, and almost cried. He was emaciated, covered in dirt and fleas, and looked as if he had gone a few rounds with an animal of some kind. I took him home, bathed him about a dozen times, and set up a bed for him in the garage. When I took him to the vet the next day, I was told that he had ear mites, ear infections (both ears), intestinal parasites, and there was clear evidence of abuse. My mind was made up right then….this was my dog now. He was named Henry, due partly to where he was found…right outside the woods. He and I bonded almost immediately, and for about a year, nobody could touch him but me…he would hide behind me whenever anyone tried. He is truly the best friend I have. I hope this story will inspire others to rescue animals in need…the benefits work both ways!

I am convinced that of the two of us, Henry and I, it is I who am the fortunate one.

Mike from North Carolina

my dog(well really my parents,but..),fuggsly,was put to sleep this monday.she was 14,a pure bred basset hound we got at the local spca.she was there because she had alot of minor health issues…multiple allergies that could lead to seizures.but my parents took her and gave her a great life,despite the costs and hassles.she was a sweetheart,got along with my parents cats(they loved her),and was the only pet we ever had that didnt run for the hills when i played my heavy metal really loud.in fact i think she kinda liked it lol.she even survived cancer about 6-7 years ago.cute but tough.last week she stopped eating or drinking,and the vet said it was total kidney failure.this past monday we hugged her for the last time.she even shook my hand(without my prompting).man that was so hard.ive had alot of pets but never knowingly hugged one for the last time like that.i feel alot more alone since then.how ironic i had hannity on tv that same night and you were on,talking about your dog.thanks.it teared me up again,but made me feel better.

James from Pennsylvania

Mark: I read Rescuing Sprite the night of All Saints Day which I thought was very appropriate. Thanks so much for this book. I have included the message I wrote when I lost my dog this past summer. I shared this with my friends and family and now I am sharing it with you and your audience. Zuel is dead. Zuel met his end on Thursday the 12th of July 2007. His life ended suddenly when he was struck by a vehicle on Great Southwest Parkway in Grand Prairie. Zuel’s life ended in his 13th year of life and his 12th year with me. I only learned of Zuel’s death on Tuesday the 17th, for Zuel ran away from home the night of July the 6th. His whereabouts were unknown until I a voicemail was left at my work on the night of Friday the 13th. Josette went to the Prairie Paw’s (our dog pound) on that following Tuesday, for I was unable to get anyone in person on the phone. She got the whole, sad story. It was rather ironic that I had visited the Prairie Paws on that Saturday, but I had not spoken to anyone-I just looked at the dogs they had confined and left. It was hard to look at those dogs knowing some would never find homes.
As far as the night Zuel left, I can just imagine Loby found the gate ajar and led Zuel out to tear into the neighbor’s garbage bags for forbidden food. The neighbors said they saw Zuel heading south around 10:30 PM the night of the 6th. Loby was smart and stayed close to home. I found him in the back yard the next morning like nothing was out of the ordinary. We conducted a frantic search that Saturday, but had no luck in finding Zuel. We continued to have not luck going to the Grand Prairie and Arlington animal shelters and posting notices on the internet. (more…)

This is Peaches and Buddy, I found Peaches in a dumpster in mid December 2005. She had a severly broken leg and four puppies, only a few days old. Eversince I was a child I have been bringing strays home with me so it was no suprise to my husband, when I brought home this family of dogs. I promised him that I was only going to keep them until the pupp’s were old enough to give away, but by the time the pupps were old enough Peaches had won over my husbands heart. You never see my husband with out Peaches on his heals or curled up in his lap which is ironic because she seemed to hate men, she tried to bite my husband and my father obviously she was abused by a man. My son Kyler claimed Buddy as his dog from day one and they are the best of friends. We love them dearly and cannot imagine out lives without them in it.

Kelly from California

Dear Mr. Levin

I want to share a poem with you that a friend of mine sent me after the loss of her beloved friend. It is called “Second Dog”.

Sometimes I look for traits in you
Of a little dog you never knew
A dog that loved me all her days
And understood in special ways.
But that’s not fair to you, I know
You’re not a substitute, although,
You’ve eased the loss, and soothed the pain,
And tugged my laughter home again.
Yet, puppy, sometimes I almost start
When your eyes recall her to my heart.
You’ll never lack for love, it’s clear,
Because of her, you’re twice as dear.

When my beloved Daisy, a black lab pit bull mix died on August 31, 2006 I did not know if I could survive losing her. I have always had numerous pets (currently 3 dogs, 4 birds, and a turtle) but there was something about Daisy. I don’t know if it was because I had so many critters to compare her to, perhaps my maturity, or just the stage in my life that I was in but she taught me what a pure unconditional love was. Much like the love that God gives us. She was brought to me by my daughter who found her digging through trashcans on the east part of town. I was very hesitant about taking her because I had just lost my Dixie but I also felt that the timing was right to bring in another friend. The vet estimated her to be about six months old and for the next ten glorious years she was truly my most cherished friend. I honestly think that she was psychic because she always read my moods and reacted accordingly. I can’t tell you how many tears she licked from my face. She slept with me every night (all 75 lbs of her) and many times I had to beat her to the bed so that I could sleep next to my husband. And many mornings, I would wake up to her head on my pillow with her paw on my chest. She was my child.
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