I had a dog for 16 years. He was a member of the family. Went everywhere with me. I really didnt look him as a dog. He got cancer. Had to put him to sleep. This really tore me up. My boss and people at work thought I was nuts(for mourning a dog). It was great to hear your thoughts on Sean Hannity the other day. I guess im not the only animal lover out here!

Thanks Dave from IN

I just saw Mark on Hannity & Colmes & oh,how I could relate as he spoke of the depth of his loss! I, too, went into a deep depression some years back after putting my beloved Abby (Afghan) to sleep. I was unprepared for the depth of grief I would experience. I had the veterinarian come to my home & put her down so that she would be less stressed being in familiar surroundings & yet still I could not shake the guilt & grief for sometime to come. I could not imagine ever going through such pain again! And, lo and behold, a couple of years ago, right in the middle of a haircut, my cell phone rang. My daughter, who worked summers as a wrangler at a nearby horsemanship camp was calling with the sound of urgency in her voice. They had found a dog on the campgrounds. He was in very poor condition & looked like he was starving. They had to remove him from the campground, and she begged me to let him come to our home until we could nurse him back to health and find him a good home. I reluctantly agreed. Buddy, a large black lab mix arrived at our home a few hours later.
(more…)

I took in a Jack Russell/Rat terrier mix named Bubba in 2000. He was skinny and a breeding dog. He was so grateful to be in the house and be loved by me. I took him to the vet to heal a herniated disc and also spent money to get his bad teeth removed. He was a loving and special dog who gave so much to me. He was very old, and on September 25, 2007 I had to euthanize him because he had so many problems with his back legs and was getting stuck. Even though I got him late in life, I thanked God every day I had him, because in 2004 I thought I was going to lose him. The last three years were priceless.

Aaron from AZ

His name is Tucker….a rescued Boston Terrier with one badly injured eye and a twisted back. He and his brother, Hector, were separated after being rescued (as they were abused street dogs and fought constantly over their food). Tucker became “my dog” after my ex-wife decided not to take him when she left. He was the greatest gift she ever gave me. As an entertainer and musician, Tucker has “played” on every stage between my home town of San Diego, Colorado, and the Midwest. He has weathered Colorado’s snow storms and the humid Midwestern summers but Tucker now has a mysterious wasting disease (similar to Cushings) and has aged from a 5 year-old to a 12 year-old dog in just one year. He grows weaker and more fragile by the day and is content to ride in the basket on my bike…watching the world go by as he snorts and sniffs at the San Deigo sea air. I have been in this sad emotional place before…watching my Mother (also slowly wasting away) after the sudden death of my Father. Surely this is a test, to do things better than I did with her. I take more time to enjoy him and to thank God for the little time we have left as man and his best friend. Thank you, Mark, for your book which will give me great comfort when that inevitable day comes when Tucker is gone and waits for me (as do all dogs) in that special place in heaven where dogs play forever.

Tim from CA

I lost my best friend of 14-years on Halloween, and the resulting anguish has been unbearable. Tika was the most loyal and dearest companion I could ever imagine, and I was fortunate with her in so many ways: from the fact that she lived with me her whole life to the fact that I still have her daughter.

I heard today’s segment on the Sean Hannity show where Mark spoke about Sprite. At first, I was going to change the station, but then realized it was something I was meant to hear. And I want to thank you for sharing your grief with all of us – I know how difficult it must be. I have known for several months that Tika would be passing soon – suffering that “anticipatory grief” that Mark was talking about. But like him, I had
(more…)

Over the years I have lost 13 best friends. As a child I couldn’t have any pets because I was asthmatic. But when I was in my late teens I got my first little mixed Chihuahua Spooky. She had been abused, but I loved her with all my heart and she was a great friend. I had another Chihuahua, Ginger who was sweet, although not bright. I loved both of them with all my heart.

Then along came Rommel, my first Doberman and my soul mate. I would have married him if he was human. He knew whatever time I left work and he would sit by the door until I drove in the yard where he greeted me. I never left work at the same time so it was amazing. He started my love affair with Dobermans and when I lost him at 9 to cancer I thought my heart would break. Never have I cried so hard and to this day (18 years later) I miss him so. He was followed by 7 other Dobermans, but I lost most of them at early ages of 6, 5-1/2, 3, 1-1/2 and then 10. Now I have Henry the 8th–my last Doberman, only 2-1/2 now and healthy. GIven to me by my best friend who died 2 months ago he will be my last Dobe. I can’t bear the heartbreak of losing them so young.
I now also have 2 fantastic Greyhounds–Captain Morgan and Mai Tai. Plus a miniature pinscher for my husband who has MD.

(more…)