7 years ago, when Mitsy was 10 years old, I rescued her from a puppy mill. She was going to be put to sleep because she could no longer have puppies. This sweet dog was in terrible shape. She was missing most of her hair…she had abscessed teeth…parasites. After a lot of love (and vet care) Mitsy is doing great at 17 years old!!!! She is such a joy that I could not even explain. She runs around like a puppy and loves life.

Beth from PA

Max was our Little Man for 14 wonderful, rewarding years. He grew up with our two girls and was a valuable member of our family. On October 17 after suffering 4 days of being under the weather, he collapsed. I rushed him to the vet where they treated him for dehydration and did ultrasound on him. A mass was found on his liver which was enlarged, as was a lymph node, his abdomen was filled with fluid. Somewhat in denial I thought we could just remove the mass and go on our happy way. It wasn’t to be. He declined quickly that night in bed with me as I gave him water with an eye dropper throughout the night. Upon returning to the vet in the AM it was apparent we were faced with the ultimate decision. We said our good-byes, I held him and whispered in his ear “I love you” until he took his last breath. It was peaceful, but the most painful thing I have had to go through. The Vet made 3 plaster paw prints for our daughters and us to have before he was cremated. We have his ashes in a velvet bag with his framed photo where we can see him every day. There will never be anything that can compare to the love we had with Max, he was our Little Man. I can now say I completely understand what you went through with Sprite.

Lisa from GA

We have been saving Yorkies for twenty years. The most memorable was Zeus. Oweners had tried to make him an outside dog and only feeding him once a day and never letting him inside. When he came home with is hecould not do stairs, play ball, he was a zero. Within six months with us and our female Molly he developed a personality that was fantastic. Say road trip and he headed for the door, say trains and he took off for the model train room and chased trains around the whole layout. Molly had to go at 14 and Zeus at 12. They are both buried in our yard(in the country) and every time I drive by on the mower I start bawling like a baby , We now have Delila, a cairn, and Daisy a Wheaten. Both rscues and both mistreated. They also are the sweetest little people in the world. I would love to read your book but I know I would be inable to. I had three tours in Vietnam and wxperienced a bunch of death in all forms. Nothing compares to the heartache of saying goodby to your baby.

Bruce from GA

I had to have my Old English Sheep Dog put to sleep this past May. Stuart Geoffrey was 13 years old. Stuart was just a big furry loveable goof. He loved everyone and thought everyone loved him.I have no doubt that God has a special place for dogs in heaven.I am so sorry about Sprite.

Jane from NY

Hi! I’m the dog who lives in your home.
Yes the dog that you leave all alone.

When you leave please turn on the TV.
So I won’t feel all alone, when it’s just me.

I’m just an animal but with feeling to be had.
And I feel hurt, empty, happy and yes sad.

Give me a pat on the head and tell me I’m good.
Tell me you love me like a good master would.

Please can I just go for a walk with you outside?
Or maybe the ultimate, a car ride.

Just giving me a bowl of food or water isn’t enough.
Give me a hug, a squeeze, a kiss, some of that stuff.

Hi! I’m the dog who lives in your home.
Yes the dog that you leave all alone.

Terence  from FL

We have 2 wonderful dogs that are both shelter rescues.

Daisy is our Jack Russell/Beagle mix which we adopted from the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, NY 15 and a half years ago. She is a sweet girl who has given so much love over the years.

She has been quite the traveler going to Florida several times by plane and quite a few car trips to North Carolina among other places.

Luckily for us she has been a healthy dog most of her life. A few years she did give us a scare and got really sick with a very high fever, weak pulse and mysterious infection and had to be hospitalized. But our wonderful vets at the Baldwin Harbor Animal Hospital in Baldwin, NY fixed here up and gave her back to us quickly.
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