I have two stories wrapped in one. When I was 14, we took a dog my grandparents owned home. He was a German Shepherd mix named Sparky. He was old already, about 14 years old at the time, and no one wanted him so my sister and I wanted to take him home. My parents couldn’t turn him away and so they agreed with my grandparents that we will build a fence before they moved to the city and we will take him. Two weeks later, the fence is built and we took Sparky to our home. My sister had grown attached to him. I remember her sitting on the back porch with Sparky and she would read to him. Unfortunately, he only lived for three more months. Sparky already had arthritis in his hips that was getting bad and then we found out that he had cancer. My parents couldn’t let him suffer so they had our vet put him down. My sister and I were upset but I realize now that it wouldn’t have been fair if we kept him alive. Our vet felt our pain and he told us that he had a few stray dogs that stay at the clinic and they let us take a look at them. We fell in love with a black lab they had and so we took her home. We named her Maggie and she was about four at that time. She was wonderful but she was definately a hunting dog. Every now and then I would find a dead rabbit or bird in the yard. Maggie kept the rabbits and the squirrels out of the yard, which was a blessing considering they would get in our garden and eat everything. Then she started to get old when I was about 20. We took Maggie to get a bath one day at the vet clinic and the vet that bathed her noticed that she had a lump on her side. So she called us and said that she is going to keep Maggie over night to make sure it’s not cancer. The test results revealed that it wasn’t cancer, just an over growth of liver cells. My parents gave the vet permission to remove the lump. The surgery went okay, but Maggie didn’t live through the night. It never gets easier to loose a pet but the Lord does give us the strength to endure it. Now my family and I got another German Shepherd mix named Carleigh. She’s young now but I know she will get old one day. All I can do now is enjoy the short time I have with her.

— Kara from Huntsville, AL

I just wanted to share with you my precious girl Doozie, who I lost yesterday 2/20/11. I got my little girl as a baby 3 months old. She is a salt/pepper Min Schnauzer (picture shown of her as a baby). Almost 11 years later to the date, I lost my baby. Everyone that knows me knew that Doozie was so attached to me. She followed me everywhere (unless she saw a rabbit to chase, lol). She has had numerous issues over her life from allergies, losing an eye due to chronic dry eye, Cushings, and later diabetes, of which she went blind all together. Yesterday, she stopped eating and just went into a world of her own. I was going to wait to take her to our regular Vet today (Monday) but at 4pm, when she started moaning in pain, I just knew she needed emergency attention. Upon reaching the 24hr vet hospital, they informed me that her lungs were full of fluid, that her glucose had spiked and that they believed she had a tumor in her brain by her random eye movement. I knew right then that it was “time”. It was all so sudden and quick, but as I told her what a good girl she was and that I will always be with her she went peacefully in my arms. Mark, as you know that is probably the hardest moment of one’s life. I always dreaded that day I would have to part this world with my beloved Doozie. I feel a little bit of her soul went into me and my husband as she went. I feel her in my heart and soul. I just wanted to share with you, since I read Rescuing Sprite and how much I adore you and your program. I knew you would understand my grief.

— Kimberly from Scottsdale, AZ

My husband and I were in Tennessee. Where we were staying at, you have to take your garbage to the local DUMP. So when we took our garbage to the DUMP a tiny puppy came running up to me. The man who worked at the DUMP asked me to please take this stay puppy home because all her siblings were hit by cars and she was the only one left. She was starving, had Sarcoptic Mange, had no hair, crusty elbows and crusty & bleeding ears. She couldn’t stop scratching herself. It was so sad. We took her to the local vet and fixed her up. My husband named her BABY DUMPLIN’ because she was from the DUMP. Being a “southern” puppy he thought DUMPLIN’ was appropriate. She looks like a small Doberman mix. Her cheeks have golden heart shapes next to her black hair. She is the most friendly puppy and we love our gift from God. I don’t know how to put a photo, but she is beautiful and healthy now and 9 months old. That is my story.

— Nancy from Crown Point, IN

My wife and I had recently moved to Florida and were enjoying our first visit from our five year old granddaughter Makayla. She had mentioned to my wife that since she was no longer working, she needed to get a dog to keep her company during the day while I was at work. My wife agreed and they went to the local animal shelter to look for a pet to adopt.
When they arrived they picked out three dogs to meet in the “greeting rooms”. Two labs and a beagle cocker spaniel mix named Augustus. Both of the labs were nice friendly dogs. Both were well trained and good with children. However the little black cocker was a little different. He was nine years old according to the information and many people were passing him by saying things like “he’s too old” and “we need to look for a puppy”. My granddaughter was very drawn to this little 26lb dog and at first my wife tried to explain to her that it might be better to look for a younger dog that would want to run, play with her. Makayla was firm in her conviction and insisted that she get to meet “Gus” in person. The labs were first to come into the room and they were both very well behaved. My wife had decided she wanted to get the Brown lab named Cocoa, but there was still one dog to see, Mr. Gus.
Gus walked calmly into the room, looking like a wise old man with his graying beard and feet. He looked at everyone sitting in their chairs and sauntered slowly over to Makayla. Without warning he simply leapt into her lap and sat down. Makayla began giggling and petting Gus. It was clear from that moment on that the choice was no longer ours, Gus had chosen us.
We have had Gus now for about eight months and my wife absolutely loves him. Everyone that comes over to our house comments on how calm and pleasant he is. He’s not a “kisser” but he does enjoy cuddling up next to you on the couch for one of his many daily naps.
I often wonder about Gus’ life before he came to join our family. Also, I wonder how anyone could have brought such a wonderful, loyal and intelligent animal to a dog shelter. The odds were clearly against Gus ever getting out of that situation with his life, but thankfully a little girl saw more in an old dogs eyes that others could, and that dog was smart enough to see that she held the key to happiness for him.

— Pete from Miami, FL

My heart is broken. My sweet furbaby shihtzu Melody is gone and I can’t deal with it. She got very sick right after Christmas and never fully recovered. Vet said she had an autoimmune disorder and her body was fighting itself. Melody was my ‘battle buddy” when I was having surgeries and treatment for breast cancer. How do I get up in the morning without her. I don’t know how to be without her.

— Debra from Richmond, KY

thank you Mark for your love of animals and support of shelter animals and my condolences on the passing of Griffen. I have a number of dogs and cats all from shelters.
I really want to thank you for your book Rescuing Sprite. I had a dog who passed 8/17/09 and though I love all my animals, Molly, a black lab was to me one who I had a connection that I can’t explain. She got sick that summer and I knew we could not save her. It broke my heart to a depth that I had never felt before.As her last days were coming I read your book and it struck me in a profound way, it helped me accept and understand that I was going to lose my best friend that I had ever had. I will never be able to explain the comfort that your story gave me. Molly will live forever in my heart and thanks to you it enabled me to realize that it was okay to acknowledge the loss.
Thanks Mark!

— James from Colorado Springs, CO