Ok,here goes…we have 3 dogs 2cats 1 llama and about 150 chickens….i was listening to the show today (10-31) and when mark was talking about his dog. this big harry truck driver was starting to cry..my small dog IS MY LIFE!..
my mom told me once that she loved me unconditionaly,i thought i knew what she was talking about…i was wrong..my bestest friend in the world loves me more than my mother and wife…i think that God lets us enjoy our pets to learn what unconditional love realy is…chessy(my bestest goodest friend.)loves me no matter what.he has truely tought me the true meaning of unconditional love…

I call home every day and leave him a message on the answer machine and and he will hear me and start jumping and barking and howling..He realy loves his daddy…and when i get home at nite we play untill its belly rub time then we have dinner and he sets on my lap untill betime.then we have to wrestle.then he shares a pillow between my wife and me,and that is where i see him when i wake up and it starts all over again…i dont need to die a rich man because my lifes treasure has 4paws and always a wagging tail…im truly blessed to have such a friend in my life…thank you mark for sharing your story,i cant wait to read your book .God bless you and all of our little friends.

Ed from OK

Dear Mark,
I am a loyal listener and a loyal dog-owner and dog-lover. We currently have 4 dogs, 3 labradors (Jet, Champ and Clyde) and a havanese (Hercules), who thinks he is a labrador…he is the boss!

But I wanted to tell you about our first lab, Zeus because whenever you speak about Sprite, I think of Zeus. He died 8 years ago after a valiant struggle against a pernicious cancer.

My husband and I got Zeus when we moved from NYC to the suburbs. we had been dealing with infertility problems and miscarriages. Zeus was our “firstborn.” he was born on the duedate for the first pregnancy that I lost. He was more like a person than a dog. He was very sensitive of our moods and even our thoughts.
(more…)

When I had to put my little Paulie to sleep, my vet cried along with me. She sent a donation in his name to the Domesticated Animal Rescue Home somewhere out west. His name is on their wall. What a kind thing to do. 

P.S. I haven’t been of the mind to get another dog for the past 3 years, but now I am going to the local shelter and get two new little friends. Going through a divorce after 30 years and realized after hearing you that new heart friends is just what I need.

 Adrine from Florida

Hooter (his previous owner gave him that name) was my best friend, he always seemed to know what I was thinking; he was always there for me no matter what, a wonderful soul. He came to me from a co-worker who had to give him up along with two lovely cats (their story is for another time). We took to each other pretty fast, even though he was already about four years old. He was a shepherd lab mix, so he had the wolf features of the former, and the webbed feet of the later. He couldn’t walk past the smallest stream, pool, or puddle with out getting in and swimming around; but if a drop of rain hit his is fur he headed for the dry warmth of the house. Snow was a different story.
(more…)

Hi Mark,
This is my dog Simba. He’s 13 years old. He was found by an Illinois State Trooper in a box on the side of Interste-80 with his 4 brothers and sisters.He has been the best family dog a guy could ever ask for. Outside of all the typical stuff a dog does like secure the house, chase squirells out of the yard .He’s had this thing that whenever anybody has ever gotten sick, he doesnt leave the side of that family memeber. No matter where in the house we would go he would get up and go with them. Thanks for the chance to tell you about him.

Mike from Illinois

8-11-97 to 9-11-98

And God said, “I’ve got a special doG for this old man. She will teach him and help him find the
path I’ve set for him.” And I said, “I’ve found that Risky Business line breeding I’ve searched for.
I told them I’d take a female as soon as I saw the pedigree. Five NFC’s in the third generation!”
And God said, “he must bond with this doG and feel the relationship that will prepare his heart.”
And I said, “This dog learns so quick, she will make me look good. We will work every day and
people will marvel at her retrieving.” And God said, “They are becoming one and he can find out
what a relationship should be.” And I said, “Misty post!” and Misty would jump into heal
position. I would say , “mark!” and Misty would be stone still and stretching as high as her ears
could reach. I would say, “Misty fetch!” and an explosion of blackness would careen toward the
mark with the speed that would cause people to ask, “Who is that little young dog? What number
is she?” She would loudly whine and groan because she couldn’t get to the birds fast enough,
causing judges to snicker and my heart to be proud. Then God said, “It is time for her to fulfill
her destiny and teach her lesson so the old man can progress on My path.” And I said, “She is so
good, I will try field trials because she is truly special. Today I title my first dog JH and train for
Masters and Field trials.” God said, “There will be a bacteria in the water I will not stop her from
getting. The symptoms will mask the terminal condition so she may fulfill her destiny.” Misty
titled and returned home, but her drive pushed her for more that day. I had forgotten to take the
collar off Katie. With nothing else to retrieve, Misty chewed the collar off and excitedly swallowed
it almost whole. God said, “It is time.” (more…)