Dear Mark ~ Thank you very much for rekindling my husband’s and my memories of our “Adoption Experience”! A few years ago we received a call from a friend who heads up the English Springer Spaniel Rescue in Frisco, Texas. She asked us to pick up a Springer for her at the Shelter in Arlington ASAP. (She was a pilot for FedEx and was in flight!) Bill and I got to the shelter within 1 hour. This beautiful liver & white Springer was only 30 minutes away from being euthanized! While driving back to our home my husband looked over his shoulder where the dog and I were sitting in the back seat and said, “Dog! You have NO idea how close you just came to being history! You have been saved by GRACE!” Guess what? We kept her and she is truly the epitomy of a BEST FRIEND… We believe that she sensed that her death was iminent… We love her so much ~ BUT, I think her love for us goes above & beyond anything that we could EVER comprehend!!!!! I’m sending you a picture of our “Gracie”… Hugs to you ~ Donna P.S. I picture Sprite sitting up in Heaven on God’s lap… If you say another prayer, I believe God will relay your love to Sprite AND give him a hug for you… That’s how God is, you know…

Donna from Nevada

Mark love the story of Sprite, although I have not yet read the book.

My dog is Brutus #2. I have had him about 14 years and he and I live alone together.
I know in the not to distant future his time will come.

I lost Brutus #1 when I was eleven years old, he was killed by a car. Gave me much comfort as an orphan without a mother, then shortly after his death, I became a real orphan on the death of my father at age 12.

At work about 14 yrs ago I was expressing to a friend that I needed to get me another dog to get me through old age as I had had a dog that got me through a difficult orphan childhood. The next evening, a total stranger brought this little bundle of white fur and placed him on my desk and stated, “he is the favorite of the litter”, he was about six weeks old at the time, an American Eskimo.

I cannot tell you the love and companionship I receive from this adorable, free spirited dog. He has been a totally healthy dog, so happy and so full of love. He is now beginning to show signs of arthritis and aging. I love him so much.

Mark, I am aquainted with grief, saw my mother die when I was five, found my father dead on the job when I was twelve, and buried my only brother 10 years ago with pancreatic cancer, and I have just recently lost a dear friend to breast cancer and many and various other close friends and aunts thru the years.

“Yea! though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death, I will fear no evil, THY ROD and THY STAFF, they comfort me.” Thas is God’s Word, and I have found it so.

I am sorry you lost Sprite and I know and can feel your pain believe me!!

Lois from Garland

Bubba, our pug, was healthy until he was about 8 when he had extensive surgery for bladder stones. A year later he underwent surgery to remove 23 teeth (no one can get near a pug’s mouth…). In March, 2005, he began coughing. Our vet diagnosed a tumor in his chest and the anticipatory grief set in. Everything we did, with our other pugs, with our travel, with our daily lives, revolved around Bubba, his medication, his meals and his time outside. By Christmas, 2005, it was obvious that his life was nearly over but we could not let him go. We began a death watch, hoping each day that he would just go to sleep with his little friends and wake up in dog heaven. But, we weren’t that lucky because he just suffered until I called the vet and asked her to come to the house. I took the day off work on December 13th, took Bubba’s picture with his buddies gave him a new bone (that he wanted but couldn’t eat) and waited for the vet. He was so tired. The fireplace was set for him and he passed away in my arms and I have never cried that hard for an animal. Today I cry as if it were yesterday and it is good to know that you have experienced the same type of grief. In fact, I asked a psychiatrist why I didn’t cry this hard for my father when he died and he simply stated, “Dogs don’t bring baggage to the relationship.” Isn’t that the truth? God Bless You, Mark Levin. Thank you for your spirit. I wish I had pictures of Bubba but I am at work and need to stop crying!

Barbara from Montana

Four years ago, I adopted a handicapped Great Dane named Bella from a shelter in Mass. Over the years she had a number of orthopedic and other medical issues, but through it all she was always such a sweetheart and I truly adored her.
In an effort to help her, I came up with an adjustable hot/cold pack that you can attach to a hip, knee, shoulder, etc…I was always rigging up a way to attach an ice pack to her, since she would never sit still. I knew there had to be a better way, so I came up with one.
Bella passed away in August, but I will keep her memory going by helping other dogs with her “Bella’s Hot/Cold Pain Relief Pack”.

Ronnie from New Jersey

One evening I picked up our beloved Scooby, a bearded collie, and she cried in pain. After an all night operation, we knew she had intestional cancer. She lived through the operation, only to be faced with the hope that chemo would help. It was pure agony for all of us. I cooked a chicken, her favorite, and she won’t eat. I ended up feeding her through a tube with the hopes chemo would help. My mother was dying at the same time. I went to work and just cried all day for weeks. People told me I would know when to put Scooby to sleep.

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Mark,

I heard you on Sean Hannity’s show today. And I listen to your show each evening.

I want to comment on something you said to Sean and offer another view…….. from a man in his 60’s who has a strong sense of what you were – and are – going through with your loss of Sprite. Here goes……

Mark, we are tasked by God to be the custodian of the earth and all of its creatures. This obviously includes our most beloved pets and companions. Being their custodian requires tough decisions some times. Putting a beloved companion to rest is your final act of being his custodian.

Grieve his loss, yes. BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE NO GUILT. I believe God gave an approving nod at your final act as his custodian, companion and friend.

During my life I have lost cats, dogs and horses that were entrusted to me to be their companion and guardian. My latest…….
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