I just put my Penney down on 9-27-07. I’ve had a very hard time with her gone. I thought I was odd for missing her so much. I got her as a puppy 16 years ago. Sometimes I think the hurt from missing her will never go away. We had a glass table in the kitchen and when we would eat I would see those little eyes looking up at me saying may I have a bite. I find myself looking on the floor at night to see if she is ok. I put her sister down in 2004 and said I would never do that again, but Penney was not doing very good and I didn’t want her to suffer. The day I took her into the vet I held her after the shot was given. She lifted her head and a tear rolled off her face and fell into the pocket of my shirt. She put her head down and went to sleep. I miss my two girls very much. They were my best friends. My daughter ask what I wanted for Christmas and I printed the page off of amazon for her and told her I wanted your book. I’m looking forward to reading your book. Maybe it will hellp me get though this rough time.
Thank you for listening.

Brenda from Ohio

A couple of years ago a coworker of mine told me that her daughter was on her way to work in Harlem. She happened to see a paper bag on the sidewalk and nobody noticed that the bag was moving. She picked it up and found a newborn Pit Bull puppy that was apparently abandoned to die. Although the daughter tried to raise the pup she was not able to give it the proper attention and I was asked if I wanted her. We already had 3 dogs and I was all for it and after explaining it to my better half we told her yes! We named her Kali, which is the name for the Hindu Goddess of destruction (my lady found that name – I’m a Spot/Snoopy type) and is somewhat fitting since Kali has an appetite for footwear (what woman doesn’t?). She has completely won our hearts and is the sweetest and most affectionate pup in the bunch that we have. We are blessed to have her!

Tom from NY

Dear Mark and Staff,
I became a listener through my husbands addiction to AM radio. When he recently told me about your website with animal stories I thought I would like to share our families recent loss and recent adoption. Our loss began on 8/3/07. Abby our beloved cocker of 11yrs. We came home from grocery shopping and she had passed away. My eyes welled up and I fell to my knees. Not my baby no, no, no not my baby. She was a gift after my miscarriage 11yrs before. So having no children of my own I came into the 2nd marriage with Abby. My new husband and my new stepson welcomed her with open arms and she became one of their family members as well. Even my mother in law called her the grand dog. She was an awsome dog. as all dogs are. When we got ready to go fishing and camping she would wait in the car until everything was loaded as if to say. UM by the way? I’m going too! she loved to go fishing. stroll the banks looking for frogs and sit and wait if we had to change bait she would whine and cry hoping there would be a fish on the end. She never caught on to the fact that when you reel in to check the bait there isnt always going to be a fish on the end of the line. And Christmas! loved to help open the presents. didnt matter if they were hers or not she helped everyone. she would tear into them and look to see what you got then go onto the next one. Just like a greedy kid.

I couldnt stand the 2 weeks she had been gone. I got to looking on the internet and looking in the paper going to local shelters. (big mistake. I wanted them all.) But then
one day some peircing blue eyes caught my attention. OMG I had to have this dog. He was so handsome. Ok now to get my husband to the animal shelter. that was a task in its self. Well that wish was about to be granted when I was the one who got to drive to dinner one night. I had them both in the car and proceeded to explain about the animal shelter and the dog we all looked at on the internet. Well he (husband) reluctantly agreed to show me how to get there. My step son was all for it. We looked at Ben and agreed that we would get him. I filled out all the paper work, (like buying a car) and waited. we had to wait 24 hrs. While I was at work the next day they had called and asked that I call back. We could adopt Ben. Ben is now Vern. He didnt respond to Ben. He is such a handsome fellow.
A little skiddish and afraid of his own shadow but is doing great. He wasnt adopted to replace our Abby. No other dog can replace another dog. They are all different, their own personalities along with their good and bad habits. Vern has eased the loss of Abby. I still mourn her death. She was special. But Vern is a hoot. We have our work cut out for us. But he will be a great addition to our family. I’m so greatful our veternarian gave us a good reference. Oh yes the local shelter called the vet.
thank you for letting me share.

Sally from Ohio

Four years ago, I met my future wife Robin. Robin is a pet lover, as am I, and she had an old pug by the name of “Noodles”. Robin rescued Noodles at the ripe old age of 12. When asked why she adopted such an old dog?? Robin would smile and respond by explaining that the cute, young dogs would likely be picked over an older, not so attractive dog. Robin was fond of Noodles; always proud to share a “Noodles” story with friend’s….she was very happy and content with her choice.

From what could be gathered, Noodles had a very hard life before meeting Robin. Multiple owners, neglect and such. The goodness of Robin’s heart sought to make up for the deficient earlier years. Not long after the adoption, Noodles was diagnosed with a mass cell form of cancer, which would eventually become terminal. In the face of this grim news, Robin was more determined to give Noodles the best possible care. Robin would locate a doggie oncologist that began combating the disease with routine doses of chemotherapy. Furthering the health regiment and comforting, came weekly acupuncture sessions, doggie massages, walks 3 times a day by the neighborhood dog walkers, friends and of course Robin & myself. Robin would also bake a special “human grade” doggie meatloaf every 2 weeks, to be used for Noodles food. She would bake it on Sundays and the entire house would smell wonderful!!

Now Mark, I share this story with you to make a point. Upon sharing this same story with my brother a few years back, his response was “you’ve found the right girl!! Robin does all this for an old pug, imagine what she would do for you.” He was right. Robin’s character was on full display, as tested by Noodles. Robin is a very special person indeed…she is the world to me, and I have Noodles to thank for showing me the answer.

Noodles was special and served many purposes. One of which was to help our family through another cancer story, involving Robins mother, Mildred. Noodles & Mildred battled cancer side-by-side. Noodles would go to chemo, and then Mildred would go to chemo. Check up for Noodles, then a check up for Mildred. Mildred would become very interested in the progress made by Noodles. We believe that through the encouraging progress made by Noodles, this then would encourage Mildred to continue her fight. Noodles would show us that life does not stop at the word cancer, but rather to be challenged by it. Noodles would provide the hope needed for Mildred until her passing in early 2005. Noodles would follow, just a couple months later. She let us know when it was her time to go…. and not a minute sooner. Noodles lived to the ripe age of 17. I buried Noodles where she now sleeps, wrapped in her favorite blanket, on our property.

We miss Mildred & Noodles to this day.

Steve & Robin from CA

My girlfriend rescued our cat from a local animal shelter were she used to work. Timothy was abandoned there with his siblings at one week old and was the only kitten of the litter to survive. His health was in question until he was well enough to go home at 6 weeks old. He grew big and strong, and lived normally until he was 7 years old, when he was diagosed with kidney disease. We nursed him back to health using a variety of treatments that kept him stable and healthy for over 4 years. He never lost his good natured personality in spite of all the traumatic visits to the vet, the medication, and the discomfort. He enjoyed tomatoes, fruit, watching birds out on the fire escape, and lounging in the spring sun on the window ledge. We lost him this spring, when the illness was too much for him to bear. We are deeply saddened and miss him greatly.

Steve from NY

We got our Moo Shu at 7 weeks of age. Little did we know that she would nearly die twice at 8 months before she was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. She is our special needs girl and she turned 8 this week! She needs a stress free life and we make sure she has it! She has made our lives so full…in spite of all her medical issues. We wouldn’t trade her for a hundred healthy dogs!
Because of her, our inspiration, we have been volunteers with The Shelter Connection, at the North Hempstead Animal Shelter, making the lives of shelter dogs better until they get a forever home.We also rescue dogs slated for euthanasia from overcrowded shelters when our kennel has extra space, which we often have since the volunteer program began. There are so many tears, but so much more joy. We have nursed dogs back to health that were nearly starved to death. We have had to have chains embedded in dogs’ necks surgically removed. We were deeply touched the night you talked about your dog and greatly appreciative that you are one of the wonderful folks who adopts an older dog. So many senior canines are dumped at our shelter in the golden years of their lives. We work as hard, or maybe even harder, to get them a good home, as we would any puppy. Every dog deserves the dignity of a wonderful loving home right up until the day he passes over the Rainbow Bridge. If people only knew..and saw…how sad their dogs are when they are abandoned at a shelter, perhaps they would try a little harder to keep them. We could go on and on, but suffice it to say that helping dogs in need has made our lives fulfilled. It is no mistake the God spelled backward is dog. They are one of His greatest gifts.

God bless you, Denise and Roc from NY