On 12th our wonderful big black-mostly-Lab dog Thurber crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He was surrounded by people who loved him, the vet, the vet tech, my husband, myself and his two Corgi friends. Before the final moment came, Corgi Girl Gwen gently kissed Thurber on the ear. He went softly and gently. He was 10 years old and had cancer. We rescued him when he was 5 from people who no longer wanted him. We changed his name from Vader to Thurber. He was gentle, loving and a dear friend. He is greatly missed.

Kay from NC

I love your show Mark. Your compassion as an animal lover is what really inspires me. On 10/25/07 I had my best friend “Wolf” put down. I look forward to reading your new book which I have already ordered. God bless you.

Randy from NV

This is Jack (Yellow Lab) and Hunter (Black Lab) We lost Jack last year in October, we miss him dearly. Hunter misses him also. To me, pets are not pets, they are FAMILY. We will never forget nor maybe get over losing Jack, but we must continue on for our Hunter. I think Jack would have wanted it that way!

Julie from Michigan

Mark’s stories about his relationship with his dogs really hit home at our household as we also have adopted or rescued our dogs. We had gone about 15 years without a pet when one day my wife said “I want to get a dog”. This surprised me as she hadn’t expressed any desire for a dog. She said she wanted one to keep her company while walking in the local parks.

So… we went to the local Pet Smart where a local rescue group meets each Saturday to match people with pets they couldn’t keep with people that were looking to adopt. My wife had been on their website a few days before and had picked out a dog she liked. When we got to Pet Smart I saw several beautiful dogs that caught me eye, my wife was sitting next to the mixed breed dog that she had picked out and told me “this is the one”. I said, but look at that one, and that one, said reiterated “this is the one” I said OK, let’s fill out the paperwork and take her home. I had no idea what we were getting, on the outside was a Lab + Dingo mix, BUT on the inside was the dog of a lifetime, you only get one of those.

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i lost my precious dog named peaches and my cat named kitty in three months i love and miss them do you think they go to heaven.

Dixie from CA

My husband and I adopted 3 schnauzers more than 4 years ago from a rescue group we help start. The 1st was a puppymill breeder, birthing more than 80 puppies in her 6 1/2 years of living in that motherland. Her feet had never touched the ground. It is heartwarming to watch her growth spurts but we constantly have to calm her shakes. Ah, so many fears. The master of the mill had to have been a reincarnated Hitler. Her story was published in one of the rescue magazines and she corresponds with other rescues like herself…. most had the same dammable lifestyles. The other 2 beautiful souls were merely discards from family owners who couldn’t take them on vacation or the owner had died. Thus, they ended up in the shelter with only hours of life left. I dread their last days with us and want your book to prepare us for what lies ahead. So I ordered 2 copies in case one became misplaced.

Things get lost in our house. Can’t imagine having to have one of my children “put to sleep.” Thanks for all the things you do for each of us. I know this space is for doggies and they truly need it. Do Democrats own dogs?
I don’t think so the way they behave towards mankind.

Anne from NC