Mark, our canine tale is full of joy, but ended in sadness. These were our beloved family dogs. We brought these litter-mates into our family when they were just 8 weeks old. Having lost another dog, we launched off on a quest to find the perfect replacement for Starbuck, and returned with Gemma and Rugby. Well, our five children were younger then and they fit into the family mix immediately and easily. They became our friends, playmates, guardians and at times, the great testers of our collective patience. But, all in all, part of the family. Unfortunately after many happy years of companionship, we lost Gemma on the left to a neighbor’s gun and Rugby to a hit and run driver. Those were sad days indeed. It’s hard to think of it, but I recently read “Rescuing Sprite” and it brought back so many cherished memories. Thank you, Mark for sharing Sprite’s life and your heart with us. It proved to be a tremendous help.

— Dan from Litchfield County, CT

I have had a love for animals since the day I was born. I volunteer with small dog rescue. I also adopted my dog Wolfie because they were gonna put him down because he was a biter. He was a abused small dog that didn’t trust people and just needed someone to show him that not all humans hurt and beat you.  He is 10 years old now and is the best friend you could ever ask for.  I also have a yorkie name Lance which I adopted him from a show breeder.  Lance’s daddy was an AKC Champion  show dog. I love my boys they complete me.

— Dawn from Dyer, IN

I literally just finished reading Rescuing Sprite, and I have been through everything you went through when your Sprite came to the end of his life. We have lost two cats and a dog just before Christmas, so I know what it feels like to look at that empty stocking on the mantel. We have had to have a pet put to sleep only to have to go through it again in six weeks with another pet–twice. Since I do a lot of animal rescue work, we have had many cats and dogs in our family and have had to say good-bye 12 times. In 2001 we adopted a 15-yr-old Golden-Doberman mix because his family couldn’t take him to Texas with them. Flash had a LOT of issues, but we worked through each one and he seemed to accept us and our dog as his new friends. On the day before the 9/11 attacks I had to rush him to the vet. He had suddenly become very ill and our vet worked to help Flash all week as we all tried to deal with what was going on in our country. We visited Flash every day, and on that Friday, as we walked into the vet’s office after going to a prayer service, our sweet vet came over to us and told us Flash’s heart had stopped just before we got there and he could not be revived. We rushed in to see him; he was still warm and seemed asleep, but our Flash was gone. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 7 months. We keep on rescuing and loving and saying good-bye, even though each time it is excruciating, because these precious animals deserve to be loved, and we are privileged to receive their love in return. They love like God loves–abundantly, unconditionally, purely–and because I love and trust in Him, I believe He will allow me to see my sweeties in heaven again. Thank-you for sharing your story and for letting me share mine.

— Lisa from Daphne, AL

My wife and I love dogs, all animals but especially dogs. We currently enjoy two females. One is a damn near pure bread shepherd (not from a breeder) but very pretty. The other is a adoption from S.P.C.A. mix breed Border Collie, chocolate in color and equally beautiful. Both are young and very sweet. The shepherd’s name is Wendy and the other is Girlscout even though brownie would be more appropriate. We take the dogs on weekly adventures to Shadow Cliffs lake where they mingle with other cuties and swim. Were overjoyed with them and their calm but playful dispositions.

— Monty & Donnamarie from Livermore, CA

Laddie was adopted from CAWL located in Prince Frederick, Maryland. A week before finding Lad, my daughter Leah and I visited another shelter to look at a collie – but, we were late and the dog was already spoken for. My daughter cried on the way home. I said, “Leah that was not the dog our Lord picked out for us to have. Our dog, is a big boy named Lad and he will know us and we’ll know him as soon as we lay eyes on each other.” One week later, Lad was in Petfinders.com and only few miles down the road. There was no waiting period – he was delivered the same day by the shelter. Now we are the proud owners of two adopted collies (Lassie and Lad).

My purebred female German Shepherd was an orphaned military dog that lived at the Patuxent Naval Air Station.  Before her owner was deployed he put her in a pound with all of her paperwork. I was extremely blessed to get her after seeing her on the local news, she was rescued at the pound by a rescue group called German Shepherd Rescue just one day before they were going to put her to sleep. I kept her original name Pepper… I sent a picture & letter to her previous owner who was deployed and told him how much I loved her and how I have given her a wonderful life with
lots of love and affection. Pepper is extremely SMART and very special. to me…   I feel extra blessed because she belonged to one our brave servicemen.

— Monique from Greenbelt, MD