As I was reading your book I took a look back when I had my dogs Lady and Trixie, who was the cutest beagle you ever saw, with her big floppy ears.

Well Lady who I thought ran away when I was young but I found out a few years ago she was hit by a car and died. My parents decided not to tell me b/c it would be too hard. But it was actually harder to find out about it now; I was so upset and told my parents my anger with them. Lady would always sleep at the foot of my bed and when I came home from school was so happy and would wait by the door b/c she knew I would take her for a long walk. She was a great dog, we had her for a long time.

As for Trixie, all my friends and family adored this dog. The worst part is that we had to leave her all alone in the house when we left for school and work. She didn’t like it at all and would start hiding from us in the mornings and snip at us b/c she knew she would be alone. It wasn’t b/c she didn’t love us , it was b/c she didn’t want to be alone and I didn’t blame her. I would always spend as much time as I could with her when I was home. But it got too much on us and Trixie, we felt so bad that we would have to leave her all the time, we had to give her up to a shelter to find a family that wouldn’t leave her alone a lot. My mother couldn’t even get the strength to bring her to the shelter, so my Grandfather and I had to do it. I wouldn’t let her go when we got there and started to cry. My Grandfather, an old ww2 vet, had to pry her from me and he brought her in; I was devastated. For the next week we kept in touch with the shelter to see how she was doing and if anyone adopted her her b/c we were worried. Within weeks a family from upstate with a lot of land adopted her and they said it was a very loving family, they really couldn’t say much b/c of privacy, which we understood. I can only hope she was taken in to a family like yours!

Great book!!
Rich (Mark’s Producer)

20 years ago we heard horror stories about Racing Greyhounds being found in mass graves. Perhaps you remember the uproar. Shortly thereafter we got a line on a new program begun at Phoenix Greyhound Park by a caring betting window employee named Cheryl. We received an education to the fact that this tragedy had been perpetrated by small time start-up companies trying to compete with the large Greyhound racing companies. Obviously they couldn’t compete so these monsters put all their dogs down.

The truth of the matter is that the trainers of these racing dogs love their dogs. We witnessed this first hand in the paddock area. And greyhounds love to race. There is so much to learn about the breed that it would take too much time here to explain.

Well, Cheryl began the Adopt-A-Greyhound program and the response was phenomenal. 20 years later the program has gone nation wide and almost no dogs are put down now after their racing careers are over. My wife and I adopted 2 greyhounds, Kate and Huey, and they lived a happy and full life for the next 15 years.

The rules of adoption were these:

1) The organization had the right to take the dog back , at any time should they get information that the dogs were being mistreated.. All the dogs are spayed or neutered in order to protect the purity of the breed. And all potential adoption candidates were investigated thoroughly prior to adoption. The agency makes every effort to try and fit a particular dog into unusual circumstances as well.

Take my word for it that this program is extremely well run.

The greyhound is a marvelous animal, quite disease resistant and does not need as much room as one might think. They are loving, loyal and get along well with children, cats and other dogs. They are just ideal. And it is worth it to see the trainers face when they learn that one of their dogs is going to a good home. I just can’t thank Cheryl enough for what she has started. And Mark, the lousy government had absolutely nothing to do with it!

I would never hesitate to recommend to anyone that they consider adopting one of these fine dogs, and one of the world’s oldest breeds.

Dennis from AZ

I remember during WW II when an Army Convoy came through Gettysburg. They pulled over by the side of the road in front of our house.

In those days there was no traffic to speak of. All of us along our road could leave our dogs run as they please. Everyone one knew our dogs name and we knew theirs. They were free. But, when the convoy left we couldn’t find Tippy. He was a Boston Bulldog. We asked our neighbors about him and no one had seen him. A month or so later while at the supper table we heard that old familiar scratching on the back door. Tippy was there. His feet were nothing but raw and bloody. He came home to us and died there that night on our backporch. We later found out that the convoy went to New York. He walked for many miles to find his home. I was maybe 5 years old at the time but I have remembered that all of my life. I am 68 years old now.

Terry from PA

Iv’e been a dog owner my whole life and at 54 years old I’ve had the unforgiving task of deciding when to put a number of them down. None have been easy but my last dog broke my heart. “Bonnie” was the best of all my dogs rolled into one. Loyal, friendly, obedient and my great (and sometimes only) companion. She did not hold my conservative views
against me.
In June of 2006 I noticed one eye was bulging from the socket. I took her to our vet who suggested we take her to an animal eye doctor. He concluded that her eye would have to be removed to extract a tumor that was growing behind it. We had the procedure done on June 14th and the tumor was found to be malignant.
Bonnie’s passion was to retrieve balls or frisbees. She did so until May 17th of 2007. I had told myself I would not put her down as long as she would bring back a ball I had thrown for her. On this day I withdrew my pledge and succombed to the better judgement of my friends and family. At this point I am sure I was the only person alive who thought it best to prolong her life. I, selfishly, did not want her to be gone.
Without going into detail I will say it was an agonizing year. With a fellow human one will go to the end of the earth to seek recovery. With a pet one is bound with financial limitations and therefore (as you have stated) you end up playing God and determining day by day the fate of your loyal companion. A companion who never whines or complains despite their deteriorating condition. A companion who lives life to the fullest with all
the attributes they have left to muster.
I will never know if that day was the proper day to put her down. I can only say there never would have been a good day. Since May I have been dogless. I miss the companionship and will soon get back in the game. I just dread the thought of agonizing through a
similar circumstance should it arise. From one “compassionate conservative” to another thank you for echoing the sentiments of those of us who are tired of watching our liberty erode.

I look forward to reading your book about Sprite.

Regards,
Scott from Idaho

I’m looking forward to reading your book. I know the love our dogs provide us,especially in time of need. I am an Air Force wife and Army mom. When my husband or son are deployed ,its my precious pups that get me through.yes we have support groups,family and friends, but there is nothing like holding ones pup ,looking in their eyes ,knowing all the time that they KNOW what we are feeling. During the last 5 years my husband has been downrange 5 times and is heading back to Iraq in May. My son has been downrange 2 times. I not only miss them and worry 24 hours a day,so do my blessed pups. But what incredible comfort they are during our long deployments. When my husband was returning home last May, he sent ahead of him several footlockers of his belongings, they arrived 2 weeks before my husband. When the mailman brought one of the footlockers into my living room my precious cairn terriers, Cubby and Bridget jumped up onto it and wouldnt leave! They knew daddy was coming home soon… I’m enclosing my picture of the pups on top of dads footlocker’waiting”,,I also want to take a moment to Thank you Mr Levin, Your support of our troops and us,their families is so welcomed and needed, May God bless you and yours. May God bless your precious puppies.

Monique from CT

Thank you, Mark, for all you do to inform and educate your audience night after night. You are a true Patriot! And thank you for giving me the opportunity to write about our beloved puppy.

Heidi. She was a beautiful, blonde golden retriever. We were blest to share our lives with her since she was 5 weeks old. She was born 12 ½ years ago in Utah. Heidi was our daughters’ Christmas puppy. Santa left a note and a map on Christmas morning telling the girls that they had to travel to get their last gift. They were so excited; they thought they were getting a computer! However, their joy was boundless when they saw their beautiful puppy. We all bonded with her immediately. While my Mom came up with the name ‘Heidi’, the girls gave her the middle name, ‘Joy’. And what a joy she was! She was funny, loyal and her love knew no bounds. Everyone remarked at what a sweet dog she was. Families, who said they would never get a dog, got one because of Heidi.
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