Hi Mark,

I always love to talk about my wonderful 4 legged friends.

I especially love Labs and have had two. For me my heart was broken twice in a very short time.

In 1988 I decided to get a dog after many years of not having a pet. A girl who worked for the same company as myself had Black Lab puppies and wanted to find good homes for them. So, I went and picked the cutest pup who became Cassie. My best friend used to asked me all the time, tell me what she looks like. All I could say was “she is just the cutest pup in the world”. She really was!! She was the most beautiful Lab and oh so smart. She played ball better then the Mets. :) She could run deep and keep her eye on that ball and catch it everytime! She could play ball until she dropped. She was truly something to watch. A black streak in the field. Her other love was swiming, which would have not been anything without retreiving her ball. So there she was, a sight to behold, swiming with that yellow ball in her mouth. I loved her so much and was so proud of her. Just like my two wonderful sons that I have. They loved her too! But, Cassie was my dog.
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I definitely plan to purchase your book. Although it’s been almost 5 years since we lost our beloved Rusty, I still think of her every day. Her ashes rest in a wooden box by our bed. I touch that box everyday as I tell my sweet little girl how much I love her and miss her. We were privileged to have Rusty live with us for most of her 15 years and she brought my husband and I so much joy and happiness. Although we have since adopted two new dogs and adore them so much, our memories of Rusty will always fill our hearts. I pray that she is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge and that someday we will be together again for eternity. God Bless you as you work through your grief as I have.

Sandi from MI

I thank God for the gift of your talent and appreciate your asking for stories about your listeners pets.
I’m 55 years old and have owned dogs all my life. I grew up on and around farms in Orange County NY. My wife and I have 2 sons (now 14 & 12) – we all want to share the story of “Rags & Mattie-Matt”.
My wife & I are huge NY Yankee fans. In 1987 we answered a “free to a good home” want ad and picked up the sheep dog/Heinz 57 mix that we named “Righetti, aka “Rags “for short.
Rags was the Queen of the countryside – this land was her land, and wherever she stoo….well she just thought that she was the boss of almost evrything and everybody – except for me. I was the only one that she would obey with unquestioned obedience. My wife, Su, could call, beseech, scream at and finally beg Rags to be obedient – but to no avail. I would start many a good natured spat by making eye contact with Rags and then nodding my head in a direction and rags would obediently follow my direction. Of course, I would say to Su, “there now, see how easy it is?”

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Mark, I have not had a dog since I was a kid (73 now) – just never had the patience to treat them like they should be treated.

But I live in a neighborhood that has all sorts of dogs, and I know practically all of them by name. I know more dogs by their name than the people who walk them. When I meet them on the street I always say hello to the dog first – the few where I don’t know the name, I say: “Hya Pal, how ya doin’?”

Your mention tonite (10/29) of God making animals reminded me of a story I heard a long time ago and I only heard it once, and can’t remember where I heard it. I cannot believe you haven’t heard it, too, but just in case:

It is in the form of a legend, about time after the Garden of Eden and before the earliest civilization. All the people and animals lived together w/ no problems.
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When our girls were little, I saw this little mixed dog at the humane society. I bought him w/o thinking, and took him home. we all loved him. He was smart, with a spirit. But after 12 or so years, his eye sight failed, he did not feel well, and we decided to put him down. We chose the Saturday of a 3 week-end, a choice we would later regret. As always he got into the.car trusting us completely.

We got to the vet at the apointed hour. I took him in; he sniffed around the waiting room, while we waited. They called our name and our little dog disappeared. We had decided to bury him at home. So minutes later, they brought our little friend out in a box. I remember he was still warm.

We took him home and sadly buried him.
Then we had the 3 day week-end to replay the action we had taken. A sad day!

Bernie from WA

I’ll admit right up front I may not belong here. That’s right, I’m a “cat person”. However, I love dogs as well and was greatly moved by clips I’ve readfrom Mark’s book. I know the wonderful feeling of saving a living being and the joy and heartbreak that comes with owning pets. As bad as the heartbreak can be, NOTHING can top the joy they bring you. I wrote a poem about my experiences rescuing cats, based on all the criticism I’ve received from many people who think I’m nuts. It may be about cats, but I hope you like it.

“Why I Do the Things I Do”

Very few people understand, why I do the things I do
But to me it’s just as natural, as breathing is to you

Why would I spend my last dollar to save a cat I just met today?
When nearly everybody else would turn and walk away
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