Mark, do not despair about Sprite or you new dog. They age at seven times the rate we do. So, we need to appreciate them seven times more-so. I know it hurts, but this is the natural order of things. I’ve had to put many a dog away. It never get easier but I never forget the tactile feel of petting them (they’re feel is more ingrained in my memory than their image for some reason). So here is a picture of Tycho, my Lab/Collie mix. He’s about 8 years old and had an ACL operation about a year ago. He’s doing great thanks to a great vet surgeon. If you need the reference please don’t hesitate to ask. You are a great guy, a compatriot. And a friend, even though we’ve never met or probably never will. God bless you.

Robert from New Jersey

On a camping trip up North one year, we found a cat with one bad ear.
She appeared one night out of thin air, looking kind of sick and without a lot or hair.
With all these things and no doubt flees, she had a kind of dignity.
We knew it would create a fuss, but we took her home with us.
And what a cat she turned into, all healed up and her hair even grew.
The other cats tried with all their might, she just walked past them and would not fight.
Then she got sick and would not drink, we tried everything that we could think.
You can’t go without water for very long, but we couldn’t figure what was wrong.
Then one day to our surprise, she drank some water on the ground outside.
Then she seemed OK again, and we became the best of friends.
She would wait for me to come home from work, she would wait every night for her little walk.
She would camp with us and walk in the woods, never behave like you thought a cat should.
She would sleep on the bed or your chest at night, and put her paw on your face at the sign of first light.
This tells you it’s time to get out of bed, to stroke her back and scratch her head.
Then one day she was sick again, this time we didn’t know where to begin.
We took her to the vet and he checked her out, all seemed OK but he had one doubt.
The x-ray showed her heart was enlarged, there was nothing he could do but would try to discharge,
Some of the water that built up in her chest, and from then on he would try his best.
She got better then sick again, but we always knew that someday when,
The pills didn’t work it would be the end, and I would surely loose my best friend.
It finally happened one sad day, she could hardly walk and couldn’t play.
I sat up with here part of the night, but it seemed like it was a loosing fight.
She wasn’t there to wake me at first light, she passed away in the dead of night.
I miss that cat so very much, but to have her at all was a bit of luck.
I guess I knew form the very start, she always had a huge, huge heart.

Doug from CA

My story is about my Benji boy,, he is 13 years old, and my little buddy. I have cried into his fur more times than I want to recall, and he always gives me comfort. I’ve had him since he was 6 weeks old, he is getting old now and along with his age, comes hardships. He has an enlarged heart, cataracs, hard of hearing, and I think he has now developed arthritis in his back legs. But he sits by me, and follows me around showing his love always. I hope that I have given him a lifetime of the love he deserves, and when he leaves this world, I hope that I can be there with him, holding his paw, and stroking the fur of the best friend I have ever had!
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to express my love for him!

Donna from Texas

Dear Mark, listening to you right now, and Greg just told you about his dog. It brought tears to my eyes hearing him, and hearing the pain in your voice also. I am so sorry for the loss of your dear pet.
I have a German Sheppard, (from the pound) who watches my house and makes me feel safer with my hubby on the road. He has been my dog and friend for over 6 years now. I dearly love my Mike! He barks when anything comes down my driveway, a loud, deep bark, but has never bitten anyone. A great deterrent to have, being out in the country.
I have another pup now that my daughter rescued from the streets, and said I needed to save the little thing. She couldn’t take it home because her female hasn’t been spayed as yet, and she has two cats and two dogs. He was dirty, matted, curly, one black eye and white with black dots all over. Ok,…. I called him Benji, had him neutered, all his shots, new collar, new bed, then groomed. Wasn’t crazy about the cost, but it was needed. When I picked him up, I was stunned!! He looked like a Dalmation Poodle! He is a sweet puppy; vet said he is 6 months old. The groomer said he was a Chinese Crested Powder Puff. We looked it up and they are a good breed of dog. He loves Mike and they play in the yard. He is in the kitchen corner on his mat now, gnawing on his doggie bone. I take him in the car when I visit my daughter, and he loves to play with her dogs, especially tiny Mia, the female……..go figure!! With my kids gone, teenage grandchildren too busy with their friends to see us very often, our pets are so very important to us for companionship and they love us unconditionally. I think that is one of the reasons God made them for mankind. It is just so heartbreaking when we lose them. Been there, cried for weeks.

Janice from Texas

Mark: I am part of a rescue network out of Nyack New York, the Dapper Dog on Main Street. In 2006, I fostered a black german shepherd dog that was completely beat up, rescued by the Dapper Dog owner’s son from a fence in New Paltz, NY. He had wounds where his neck was tied, he smelled of skunk and he had a knob on his front paw from a wound that was not treated-most likely pit bull bait. And his teeth were filed straight.
His eyes were cloudy too.
So I took him in and kept my other 3 dogs away from him so he could recuperate. He was a beautiful 85 lb. specimen. All black- very rare.

After a few days my husband said there is no way we are letting him go!
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I listened to Mark’s sjow tonight and heard all those callers who had lost their beloved dogs. It was just what I needed today, because, yesterday, we had to put down our beloved Rosie.She lost her battle with liver disease. Rosie was an 11 year old Lab/Shepherd/Rottie mix we rescued. She was a special needs dog, with a bad spine and bad hips. But her spirit and joy, trust in us, sense of humor, intelligence and playfulness brought so much joy to our lives. Our vet was so kind and understanding. He helped us through the whole final process, and we will always be grateful. Rosie loved the ocean, the lake, walks in the woods. She would pester me to play ball with her, or bring her leash to me when it was time for a walk. Though she is gone since yesterday, I still see her everywhere. Coming to the door to greet us, laying by my feet, sleeping in her favorite spot. She loved our kids and grandkids. She never, ever bit anyone or even showed her teeth, but she would bark when someone was at the door, and a husky, serious bark it was. Just what we wanted.
I can’t write much more, because I am crying a bit. I will never, ever forget my wonderful Rosie.
God tries to tell us He loves us in a thousand ways, and most of the time we don’t get the message. That’s why he gave us dogs. After you’ve been lucky enough to have a dog for a friend, you know that it was God’s way of showing His love for you, by gifting you with that particular dog and that particular time in your life.
Thank you
Gary from ME