I would like to tell you about my very dear friend Hawkeye. At 41 years old, I have had many pets, dogs and cats. But I believe that 1 over all the rest stands out just a bit more. To me, it was Hawkeye.

On Oct. 1, 1980, he was born. I was not sure he would live, long story, but I worked on him and he did live, for 16 years. At night, always by my side, a true lap cat. More so, a true dedicated friend. Through happy times, and sad like when my Mother died, he was there. He live for over half of my life at the time.

In 1994 he developed diabetes. For almost 2 years I tested him and gave adjusted insulin shots daily. He was happy, healthy and full of life. He would hear my car, cry at the window and then greet me at the door, every day. Whenever I sat down, there he was, on my lap, purring and happy.

On Oct. 21, 1996, he was not well; I took him to the vet all the while knowing what was happening. Sadly I had to put him down. At 31 years old, I had never made this decision with any pet. I was never around when they died. So this was very tuff for me and for a long while I was very upset.

Hawkeye reminded me that animal lovers can help those in need. As Mark helped he beloved dog Sprite, I helped my Garfield, Amber, Jonesy and now Hobbes. All of them either abandoned or left behind. Also I just rescued 2 cats that were cared for, but could not move with the company to its new home. Now, they have a chance at being adopted, I am very happy about it too.

My late vet wrote a very nice article about Hawkeye, she ended it with, “I hope you are happy mousing in the fields of heaven Hawkeye. You certainly deserve it………”

And someday he, along with so many other dear departed friends will be waiting for me, and we will ALL cross over the rainbow bridge into Heaven.

Mark, I am so sorry about Sprite. I know how it feels…..

Jon from NY

Bear was a bad dog, but a great companion. He came to us by a fluke, we were not even supposed to have a pet, in our rental house.
My husband worked graveyard, and came home early, due to a knee injury. I did not even wake up until he was over my bedside.
He heard about a coworker who was giving away puppies, and thought that would be good protection for me.
There was only one puppy left, the pick of the litter, and Moe was keeping him for herself!
My hubby did not give up, and within a week the puppy was ours.
Polar Bear, a white sheperd, Black Lab mix, was ours on a Monday in February.
He was a white ball of fur.
We spoiled him, as we were in a rental house, and did not want the neighbors to tell our landlady that we had a dog.
He was a smart dog, and potty trained quickly. He did have a whiny streak.
By the time we bought a house, he was already set in his ways. He did not stay outside if he did not want to!
He knew many games, baseball, football, frisbie, and the best of all, playing wounded.(Almost dead, but not quite.)
In his 10th year, he did seem to slow down, not even complaining about trick or treaters on halloween. 2 weeks later, he lay by my husbands side of the bed waiting for him to get up. My husband now works days, and gets up around 5.
Bear went outside, but did not come back in, he was laying on the lawn, very rare for him.
He came in with much coaching from my husband. I was getting dressed to take him to the Vet, and he died in my husband’s arms.

Bear was a bad dog, and a great companion.

Anita from CA

In April 2004 I arrived home to find that my wife had made an executive decision. She had brought home a malnourished, sensitive stomach, ADHD, puppy by the name of “Percy” for my son.

I was not at all happy as we were going on vacation to New Mexico the next day and “Percy” would need to come along.

We loaded up the minivan and away we went. During the trip the dog slobbered all over the place, had several accidents, tried to escape, and threw up.

We had a good trip anyhow, but the dog was still a challenge as not every motel was pet friendly.

When we got back, the dog was renamed. “Percy”, the shelter’s name just would not do.
(more…)

I could share endless stories of my many rescued dogs.

But the biggest thing I always remember is the “Dog’s Prayer”.

The Prayer is all the normal (what should be common sense) Feed me, love me keep me warm..blah, blah, blah.

The last is what has carried me thru the hard times.

When the time comes for the last ride..

“My fate was always safe in your hands.”.

It always makes me feel better.

Pat from X

This is from an email my daughter (27 years) sent me the other day. Her little “Lita” was tragically killed by two other dogs and she is devastated.

One month ago today, I lost a piece of my heart, I lost my Lita. It’s been a really hard month. There are still so many days that I look for her or think that she’s just on a hiatus at mom and dad’s, but then my heart sinks as I realize that the only way to see her is to look at a picture or search for a memory. I have so many wonderful memories of Lita, ones that make me laugh and smile and remember what a wonderful friend and companion that she was. Then I have that day…the one that tears at my heart and makes me ask “why?” over and over until I just want to die. I hate that day…it took my friend, and as hard as I try, I cannot forget everything that I saw and felt. My heart is still an opened wound and I find myself crying so often just wanting her fuzzy little self to rub against my face or nudge at my hands until I lift the blankets so that she can sleep down by my feet. But I will never have that again, just the memory. So I hold all of those memories so close to my heart
and pray that one day I’ll see her again and tell her that “I’m sorry and that I loved her more than I ever thought possible”. She helped heal my heart after Rosie and Tigger and filled a void where I thought none ever could. So on this day, in her memory, I share with you the beginnings of her tribute slideshow. It is not yet complete as I still have many more photos to add to it. All of these pictures are the happy times and the ones I have to use to erase THAT day. So please, tonight when you say your prayers, tell Lita that you miss and love her, and then hold all of your little friends and tell them how much you love them. You never know when one may go to God, I didn’t, and you don’t want to regret not holding them that extra minute or snuggling with them that one extra time or kissing their wet nose. Lita said goodbye to me the night before her passing and let me love on her extra long before we went to sleep and I am so thankful for that last memory. I miss my little frien
d!

In loving memory of my Lita….

Rick from Georgia

Mark, I don’t have a dramatic story, but I do want to say my Miniature Schnauzer, Cody, is my angel, and he’s the best therapy I’ve ever had. I love to wake up in the morning to see my little dog, and I cannot wait to get home from work at night so I hug and kiss him. He is cute and sweet and very loving. My husband and I don’t have kids, and he is our child. We spoil him rotten. He is my first dog, and I cannot figure out how I made it all of these years without a companion like him. I have a two-legged “Love of My Life,” and a four-legged “Love of My Life.” My husband understands this too — he loves Cody as much as I do.

Mark, love your show, and I love hearing about your love of dogs. Keep it coming!

Sheila from Florida