We had to put down our precious 13 year old Yorkie, Sugar, almost three years ago. She was the first dog we had as “empty nesters”, and she was our baby. She not only slept in our bed, she slept on the pillow with one of us part of the night and on the other pillow the rest of the night. If I was holding her in my arms when my husband came in from work, he kissed her before he kissed me. She developed fluid on her heart when she was ten. Low doses of medicine worked for about a year, then it had to be increased. Our vet told us the medicine would eventually cause kidney failure but taking her off the medicine would cause her to die of heart failure. January 21, 2005, I took her to the vet to have her teeth cleaned. I authorized his doing blood work before putting her under for the cleaning. An hour later, the vet called me with the news that Sugar was already in kidney failure and couldn’t live more than a week. The vet said she would most likely have a seizure, and it could happen any time. My husband was going to leave on a week-long ski trip the next day, and I knew I couldn’t face her dying without him; nor could he have stood not being with her. So we made the decision to have her put down at 6:00 that evening. When I picked Sugar up from the vet, I took her home to do all of her favorite things and eat her favorite foods.

Sugar had loved to take showers and baths since she was a puppy. If we’d have let her, she would have taken a shower with us every day. If bath water was running and the door was open, she was in the tub. So she and I took a shower that day, I dryed her hair with her snuggled in a towel in my lap, and I let her eat all the Lipton’s Chicken Noodle soup that she wanted…one of her favorite foods but one I hadn’t given her in three years because of her heart problem and the high amount of sodium in the soup. Our daughter and her children came over to tell Sugar goodbye, and we all cried together. My husband came home from work early, and we loved on her until 6:00 when we took her to the vet, who allowed us to bring her in after his office was closed. I held her in my arms while the vet put the needle in her leg. She closed her eyes and was gone. Our vet and his assistant cried with us. and consoled us. My husband went on the ski trip which was the best thing for him to do. I stayed home and grieved for a week which was the best thiing for me to do. Two weeks later we brought home our new baby, another Yorkie named Sweetie. She hasn’t taken the place of Sugar, but she has eased the pain. Sweetie responds to “Sugar” because everyone slips and calls her that. I look forward to reading your book…even though I know I’m going to bawl my eyes out.

Gloria from Texas

Fred (black) and Frank (brown) are very special dogs to my wife and I. Fred came into our lives when I was 15 and just starting to date Tracy. My parents adopted him and he became my best buddy. Fred would always be waiting at the door for me when I got home, no matter how late is was. There was always a spot on my bed for my buddy. When I moved away to college and was only home on the weekends, Tracy adopted Frank to keep her company. When I came home to visit, both of the dogs would be waiting for me and loved having me home.

After graduating college, I decided to answer the call and join the US Army. Frank dealt with it very well. Fred, however, went into depression and stopped eating for a week. He eventually bounced back though. In March of 2007, Tracy and I finally got married after a 9 year relationship. Both dogs were happy to have me home for two weeks. Leaving home for Ft. Bragg two weeks later was the hardest day of my life. I think that Fred knew I would not be coming home for a very long time. One month later I would be in Bagram, Afghanistan. Since leaving, Frank has kept Tracy company and been very loving to her. He is doing a good job. Fred has developed a heart condition that no vet can seem to figure out. I often wonder if he feels that I abandoned him. He holds on yet today, but I fear that his time is short. God willing, he will still be there when I return home in April. I can’t help but feel that my buddy Fred is an unsung casualty of the war, a good dog whose heart was broken when he watched his best friend go off to fight. I hope I am not right.

Adam from NC

Hi Mark. I lost both my parents in two years. My English Setter Fergie seemed so depressed this year. She is 10. I got a marternal instinct and against advice I started going to the English Setter Rescue Sites.After 3 months with ACES Another CHance for English Setters I settled on Dexter a 9 year old from Louisville Ky. I flew my dog groomer down, against the advice of the foster moms (he was wary of strange men) etc. We drove him home to Detroit. He has become a mush pod like a beanbag chair, Fergie is like a three year old again, I have to resort to the sofa since they took over the bed most nights. They love the dog sitter who watches movies with them and have popcorn. The best part is every night when I bathe, Dexter stands by the bathtub till he gets his face , ears and front paws washed, now Fergie wants it too. I have two very happy Senior dogs….Penny Detroit
ACES Another Chance for English Setters By the way no one will sit in the back seat!!! It’s a zoo. I love it.Another chance for me to love too.

Penny from MI

Thank you Mark, for providing a venue to let go of my pain. It has been a little over 7 months since I have lost Skidboot and it still hurts so bad. Everyone seems to believe he was only part of the public team, but at home, he was still my puppy. He was 14 years old, so yes, I knew it was coming. He was blind and that was not a problem. He could still manage to get to where he wanted to go. He could still find me in my office or the bedroom. Two weeks before I lost him, I had a serious injury. When I came home from the hospital, the cast had to be completely inspected. After that, he stayed by my side. I will never forget him and there will never be another like him. This picture is Skidboot letting me know it was time to stop working and time to play.

Barbara in TX

This is my little buddy Dusty and true trucker. I’m an over the road truck driver and Dusty has has been riding with me for 10 years now. 8 1/2 years ago, my wife was killed in a home invasion. I don’t know what I would have done without Dusty. He was there during my grief and always seemed to know when the bottom was about to fall out. Now that he’s getting older, the thought of losing him is unbearable. These furry little angels tug at our hearts when they’re with us and break our hearts when they leave.

Bob from PA

‘ve been listening to your dialog about Sprite for past couple of nights. I too rescued my dog. However, this evening I heard one of your listeners call in and was intrigued by their story of their dog named Ruby (a Rottweiler). What’s curious and strange to me is I too have a dog I rescued a couple of months ago named Ruby (a 2 year old Rottweiler). Even more strange is I adopted her to fill the void of losing my previous beloved dog who also was named Ruby (a rescued Rottweiler). Everyone at work thought it was kismet that I located a another Ruby (Rottweiler) to rescue after losing my first one. I was just wondering how many Ruby “Rottweilers” are out there! We’re still getting to know our current Ruby who we fondly call Ruby Duex [as she is the second]. There isn’t enough time or paper to describe my first Ruby who was my constant companion while my husband was deployed for 2 years to Iraq. My husband is still active duty (and now back with us from Iraq) and I’m retired military. Ruby was the greatest God send ever. I would have gone crazy without her. I hope the other gentlemen’s Ruby “Rottweiler” is just as sweet and wonderful – which I’m sure she is. Continue to challenge us with thoughful topics so we can make an educated and informed decision on the impending election. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Christine from VA