I rescued a 1 year old Boxer 3 years ago & it’s been one of the best decisions we have ever made. He had been abused & had “some issues” when we first got him. We were thrwn out off the first school we went. By the second school Sonny realized that we truly loved him & he came around & changed completely. I travel quite often & when Sonny sees me packing my bag he will completely ignore me till I come back & then he’s all mine.

Luis from Ohio

I listen to you speak on Hannity’s show about your Sprite and remember my own two pets who are with your Sprite in a better place. I can appreciate how you feel and understand why it is so painful to bring up the details as you are remembering the beloved memories. We had two sweet toy poodles. Minnie was the mother of Squirt, who was born in our house. They gave us such joy and companionship and unconditional love. My daughter who is thirty something still talks about them after almost ten years of their passing. Minnie had some health problems but was holding her own. Since she was 17 years old and winter was coming I had my husband dig a hole for her in case she didn’t make it through the winter. In the meantime, Squirt wasn’t feeling well and was taken to the Vet for a checkup-the outcome was he was in kidney failure. We were devastated by the news because he was suffering and we knew the decision we had to make. He was 15 1/2 years old but to us he was still a puppy. We were broken hearted to have to put him down. I never felt such pain putting my beloved Squirt down (I am brimming with tears remembering the loss). Never did we dream that he would use the hole meant for his mother, Minnie. I could see Minnie was so lost without him. I had to sleep with her because she was so lonely and sad. Within 10 days she stopped eating or drinking. Again we had the painful decision to put our second dog down. They were buried together wrapped lovingly in blankets. We were very upset to lose both pets in a short time. I couldn’t even think about another dog. It was too painful to have one and lose it. Seventeen years sounds like long enough but emotionally and physically its not enough time to spend with our pets. They were part of our family and lives.
I would come home at night and the house would feel empty and quiet. My husband without my knowlege scoured the paper for another dog. We found an ad locally for a toy poodle. I reluctantly went to see the dog. The seller greeted us at the door with this red toy poodle weighing about a pound and a half. I fell in love all over again and gave my love to Sienna who is almost 10 years old.
I can still remember my Minnie and Squirt like it was yesterday. They have left their imprint on my heart forever. I appreciate the opportunity to express my feelings about the loss of our beloved animals.

Jeanne from New York

Good day Mark! I listen to your radio show EVERY day on my drive home to Silver Spring. Both of my beautiful dogs are rescued…or did they rescue me? Honey is a Lab mix 12yrs old..and Molly my Basset is 5. They saw me thru my husbands death..and the long lonely days since then. God bless you for writing this book. It will be my present to lots of my dog park friends this Christmas.
Best wishes,
Attached is a picture of my old girl Honey.
Dianne from Maryland

I WAS SO TOUCHED BY YOUR STORY, I DECIDED I WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT OUR SNICKERS. I HAVE HAD SUCH A HARD TIME WITH HER LOSS, BUT IN HEARING YOUR STORY ABOUT YOUR LIFE WITH SPRITE, I FELT LIKE WRITING THIS TO YOU WOULD HELP. SNICKERS WAS A BEAUTIFUL CAIRN TERRIER, WHO CAME INTO OUR LIVES ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO. THE PEOPLE WHO ORIGINALLY OWNED HER LIVED ON THE STREET A BLOCK OVER FROM US-LONG STORY SHORT, THEY MOVED AND LEFT HER ON THE STREET. MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED LEAVING FOOD AND WATER OUT FOR HER-AFTER A FEW WEEKS, WE LOOKED FOR HER AND FOUND HER AT A HOUSE NEAR BY WHERE THEY WERE HAVING A GARAGE SALE (SHE LOVED BEING AROUND PEOPLE AND GETTING ATTENTION). WE PICKED HER UP AND TOOK HER TO A VERY SPECIAL VET, WITH THE IDEA WE WOULD HAVE HER CHECKED AND THEN FIND HER A GOOD HOME. WELL, SHE HAD HEARTWORM, SO WE BROUGHT HER HOME, NURSED HER THROUGH THAT, AND SHE WAS THEN OURS. OUR DAUGHTER SAID SHE KNEW IT WAS A DONE DEAL WHEN WE CAME HOME AFTER A TRIP TO PET SMART, WITH A FLUFFY BED, TOYS, AND ETC. YOU HAVE SAID THE SAME THING I HAVE MANY TIMES-ALL THEY WANT IS LOVE, FOOD, AND A LITTLE ATTENTION, AND THEY GIVE YOU COMPLETE DEVOTION. THERE IS SO MUCH TO TELL-SO MANY STORIES FOR OUR 10 YEARS TOGETHER, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY, SNICKERS WAS LOVED. SHE WAS ILL HER LAST YEAR AND BECAME VERY ILL AT THE SAME TIME MY MOTHER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE HAD TO GO BETWEEN GARLAND, TX AND BACK HERE TO FT WORTH JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK. WE LOST SNICKERS AND A WEEK LATER WE LOST MY MOTHER. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THIS PAST APRIL, AND I STILL GET TEARY WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, I THANK GOD THAT I WAS SO BLESSED WITH THIS VERY SPECIAL FRIEND AND FOR MY BEAUTIFUL LOVING AND CARING MOTHER. SO, MR. LEVIN, AFTER WATCHING YOU ON FOX AND HEARING YOU ON THE RADIO, I HAVE TO SAY JUST LET THOSE TEARS FLOW AND THINK ABOUT HOW BLESSED YOU HAVE BEEN-SPRITE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU, AND WHEN THOSE TEARS COME, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE FUN TIMES TOO. WE HAVE MANY PICTURES OF SNICKERS, BUT, I AM TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED, AND AM NOT SURE HOW TO SCAN ONE IN TO SEND WITH THIS. I WILL, HOWEVER, GET MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS LATER. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS AND PLEASE HUG ONE ANOTHER FOR ME-YOU ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE. OH YES, THE REASON I KNOW I AM TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED IS BECAUSE MY GRAND-DAUGHTER TOLD ME THIS IS SO-I REALLY AM,YOU KNOW. I USUALLY JUST READ AND SEND E-MAILS, AND CAN FIND WHATEVER I NEED ON THE INTERNET-WHAT ELSE DO I NEED, HMMM? I TELL HER THIS, AND SHE JUST SHAKES HER HEAD AND GRINS-JUST ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL BLESSING IN MY LIFE.

Mariss from Texas

This morning I buried Laura. Laura was a little kitten (about 10 weeks old) that appeared at my property fence two days after another favorite cat of mine died. It was uncannyd how much she looked like the other cat. I took her in and she was a bright spot in my life for a few months. She was a tiny little cat, full of life, playful and ahe would jump into the lap of anyone who came to visit. Two weeks ago she was diagnosed with FIP, a horrible disease in cats that takes protein out of the blood and lets it build up around the intestines and organs and leads to death in a few weeks due to depletion of protein in the blood. For the next two weeks I was her only companion because she had to be isolated from the other cats. I spent as much time with her as possible. If I had to work away from the house I would check on her every hour or two and talk to her and hold her in my lap. At night she would curl up on my chest or shoulder and sleep. Each morning I would take her out into the yard for fresh air and to see the sights. She was very alert and noticed everything. But each day I could see the slow decline of her strength and the buildup of fluid. Yesterday, after a conference with the veterinarian, I knew I had to make the hardest choice of my life. I knew that Laura was very weak and possibly feeling some pain. I went home and held her for a while then picked up the phone to call the veterinarian then changed my mind back and forth a dozen times. I knew I would be selfish to try to keep her alive as long as possible in her condition. I finally mustered enough courage to push the button and tell the vet that I was bringing Laura in to be put to sleep. After it was over I brought her home and cried like a baby. As a matter of fact I am having to wipe tears out of my eyes as I type this letter. I realize that in the last two weeks Laura had become my best little pal and that in that time I had learned to love her even more than I had before. It literally broke my heart to have to part with her but I loved her too much to watch her waste away any longer and die an agonizing death. Sleep peacefully, little Laura.

John from Texas

ilost my biffy after having him for 17 ana ahalf years. i still cry for him he was my best friend. i always say if pepople dont like dogs they dont like people. iknow how you feel mark and i admire you for speaking out about sprite god bless.

Liz from New Jersey