I am still in mourning about losing my 2 dogs and 1 cat within a year. My older dog, Dusty (who was the mother of my younger dog, Cocoa) had to be put to sleep at the age of 15 due to progressive arthritis which had diminished her ability to walk, go to the bathroom and get up from lying down. This was very hard to do, but we did not want something to happen to her while we were at work and had to make the hardest decision of our life to put her down. Within 3 months our oldest cat, Bunky, who was 18, had finally succumbed to failing kidneys and we had to put him down. That too was very hard, but easier to accept because of his age. We had two other cats who we adopted which eased the pain of losing 2 animals within such a short amount of time. A few months after that, our youngest dog, Cocoa, who we knew had a heart problem, (but was doing great) began to get a nose bleed and had sores on her paws. Within one week we discovered that she had a tumor which grew so fast that it began to press on her major organs, including her lungs ,which was causing her severe breathing problems. The tumor was inoperable because of her heart condition and we waited until the last possible moment to take her in to be put to sleep. It was so totally unexpected and she was only 12, that to this day whenever I think about her I tear up. We have a new dog, Buddy, a Treeing Walker Coonhound. He is 1-1/2 years and so full of life that he wears us out. But Buddy was exactly what we needed – energetic, young, funny, loving and an overall great dog. I cannot stand the pain of losing animals, but the pain and loneliness of not having a dog or cat is far worse and that is why we continue to adopt animals. God bless you Mark for sharing your story. I cannot wait to read your book.

Laurie from MI

I have had 2 lovely cats. Unfortunately, they died in our lliving room after 5 years each.
I will not ever be able to have another endure the pain of losing them. They were my best friends. My wife says that I and they loved me more than we love each other. Perhaps this is because they gave me such unconditional love and attention. Meouzi ever rode on my shoulders while in the car. I never woke up without one of them on my side. I looked forward to getting home to have their attention. Soft white fur, blue eyes met me as the King of the Universe. It destroyed me to see them die so young. I miss this attention, however, I do not ever want to bury another loved pet again.
Am I dull or cruel??

Don from Texas

He was a Pug. He was my first child. I think all dogs are like our children in many ways. He was 2 months old when he came into our lives, and 16 years when he left for doggie heaven. I remember when our oldest daughter was born, Patton would steal her bottles, and we would find him laying on his back, holding the bottle between both front paws, suckling away.

He did the same with Pepsi cans, he hated Coke.

Back in 2004 the marriage was coming apart. One day I noticed that Patton was not moving too well.

He’d already gone blind and deaf, and had started to develop a cough. We scheduled a day to bring him into the vet and when we did, the vet said “This dog is very old (16) and very sick. He has cancer, and a couple other things that I can’t remember now. The vet said, “It would be inhumane to make him continue to live with this. I was fine…until the doc asked if I wanted to hold Patton “during.”

I couldn’t do it Mark. I gave him over to the vet, I still remember the look in his eyes as he was carried away. My now ex-wife and myself left, drove to the beach in tears…Patton always loved the beach….we held each other for hours and wept as if we had just lost our child.

Mark we had met in high school, got married literally months after graduation and this was our first baby. To this day (3 years later) I get choked up and tears flow while writing you. I guess you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I was a U.S. Army soldier and a rough, tough veteran of Gulf One….

And I still have not replaced my old friend, I don’t know that I will until I can think of him and not tear up.

Mark:
When I hear you talk about your beloved Sprite I just can’t hold the tears back. We lost our beloved Black Lab, Camden, 6 months ago. The pain is still there as if it were just the other day..She was my best friend, and a loyal companion, I’ll never forget her. She was diagnosed with Lymphnoma last December and lost her in April. We decided to have her cremated and her ashes are here with us. Even today, when I come home from work, I’ll go over to her wood box and give her a kiss, and tell her that she’ll always be in my heart. I’ve ordered your book, and can’t wait to read it.
God Bless you and your family, and God Bless our troops. You are truly the “Great One”.

Ellen from MD

Matrix was not our dog, but he was the dog of our daughter and her family. However, we felt very close to him, because every time they were traveling, we took care of him and enjoyed his company so much.

They took him home from the North Shore animal hospital at the age of about two months and they could not have made a better choice. He was truly a wonderful companion. He was a German Sheppard mix and made it to the age of 18 plus. They gave him the greatest care all those years and he gave all of his love to all of us.

We still miss him and always will, even though it’s been almost a year since they had to make the decision to put him to sleep. But we know how fortunate we were to have loved him for all those years

Grace from CT

My pet rabbit Jack was a Giant Flemish who weighed 25 pounds and was such a cool pet. Jack had a kidney disease and we had to give him a saline solution 3 times a week to keep him alive. He never put up a fight and was always so calm, complacent and loving. Jack went down on Election Day last year and we had to make the decision to put him down. On Jack’s last day, he spent the afternoon in the garden eating leaves and grass and enjoying a beautiful Indian Summer day. We hugged and kissed him and wrapped him in his favorite soft blanket and brought him to the Vet’s office. The Vet gave him an injection when he was in my arms and I was telling him how brave he is and how this is the last needle he will ever have. Jack gave the Vet quite a fight but we had promised Jack that we would make the right decision when it was time. We fought to keep him alive but the time came when the fight was over and we had to let him go. This Election Day was particularly sad because my father was very sick with cancer and Alzheimer’s. He wanted to vote because he is a true American and my mother had to go in the booth with him to help him. We lost the House and Senate on that day and I mourned for my father, for Jack and for my country.

Jeannie from NJ