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Duffy

My brother, his wife and I operated a golf range alongside a moderately busy state highway. One day a dog appeared and refused to go away. I’m now ashamed to admit that we tried to disuade him from staying. Fortunately, he refused to go away and eventually we fed and watered the guy.

He simply would not eat while anyone was in view, so we moved the bowl to a private location where he replenished in peace. He was extremely cautious and let no one near him.

No one responded to ads in the paper or pet stores.

After some time he realized we had no intent to harm him and he never left the property, although he freely roamed within the confines and the boundaries which he somehow instinctively recognized.

Soon, a golfer arrived with a child in tow and we were astonished to see the dog, a Shelty, race toward the child in a decidedly friendly manner. He and the little girl played while the dad practiced. As any adukt approached, he fled

Eventually, as you have by now deduced, he became a fixture on our range. His fear of adults gradually dissolved over the months, except for the occasional male who must have reminded him of some past unpleasantness.

I named him ‘Duffer’ even though he never even attempted to hit a ball. He had no interest in rounding them up either (dang it!).

So, ‘Duffy,’ as we called him was loved by every child not afraid of dogs and allowed many a parent to practice at peace while he entertained the kids. It was great not having to babysit them ourselves, as well.

We sold the range a couple of years ago and my (big) brother absconded with Duffy and moved to another state. It’s a 350 mile drive (one way) to see him, but it’s worth it every time. Don’t tell my brother that’s why I show up, okay?

Martin from TX

Brandi

Thanks for offering this, I am sad and this is a place to release at bit. My wonderful dog Brandi was put down this morning. She was eleven almost 12 and brought joy to my wife 4 children and me everyday she was with us. I still remember her chasing after my daughters as they ran down the incline of our backyard, grasping their T-shirts from behind so they would not fall on their faces. Never any attempt to train, she new what I meant with a word or even a gesture. Wonderful animal and she will be missed. Thanks again Mark.
Jon from AR

No Regrets

All of my dogs have been rescues. My last rescue,came from a shelter that I was doing volunteer work, walking all the dogs and trying to get a little training in them. I saw a dog , brindle in color, covered in lesions, had Lymes disease and loaded with worms. He would stare at me with direct eye to eye contact every time I passed his cage. I never walked this dog ,there were so many to walk I never got to him. Then, I had a dream and it was him looking at me . It bothered me so much, the next day I told the manager of the adoptions that I was taking him home. He is a star in agility and one of the most intelligent dogs I’ve ever owned. He is a German Shepard/Pit , so naturally , no one wanted him because he was part Pit. I have no regrets .
Virgina from NJ

Gus & Honey

Mark, I and my wife Karen to are dog lovers. I called you on Friday March 13th. I am the caller Robert Kenehan running for Governor in 2010 that predicted the market at 6500 months ago. I wanted to let you know that me and my wife have an English Bulldog( Slider) who is now 10 years old .We also adopted 2 more from the shelter. A American Bulldog Boston terrier mix (GUS) looks like a Piranha with an under bite. Our newest edition (Honey) who is a German Shepard Golden Lab mix. I love your show and I feel you are the last of the great conservative voices left. I wish I could share my story with you sometime as it is very interesting. During my call with you. You stated that you do not do facebook did you know that you have a fan page there? Anyways I wish you the best and who knows maybe someday we will chat politics on facebook. You should check out my posts on my facebook page some interesting political observations on there. Damn file to big on pic. Well check them out on my Facebook page. Keep up the good work Patriot.

Robert from CO

Comet

As I made my way down the aisle separating the  cages in the animal shelter, all the dogs barked or snarled at the hollow clang my crutches made on the cold concrete. All, that is. except for one smallish black and tan mutt in a cage with his brother. While his brother cowered and barked from the back of the cage, this compelling face (what would come to be known as a \’boo-boo\’ face) sat eagerly at the cage door wagging his tail. I could swear he was smiling at me as if to say, \”Your search is over and here I am!\” While my husband and kids continued to search for our prospective pet, I stopped by his cage and impulsively decided that HE was the one. That fateful decision began fourteen years of a love affair that continues two years after we lost him.

He was already named \’Comet\’ by the shelter staff and we kept it. We brought home this six month old beagle-Lab mix who promptly adopted a bean bag chair as his bed and didn\’t miss a meal from day one. Over the next few months as he grew out of his mischieveous puppy phase, we shelled out several hundred dollars for various neighborhood kids\’ sneakers and boots and a television remote chewed beyond repair. Over the years, he became legendary for stealing food: a sandwich from my nervous sister-in-law, five pounds of Easter candy from my daughter\’s basket and never got sick, two pounds of ground meat in the wrapper from the sink and a package of kielbasa he sneaked to the basement. Comet became the mascot of my daughter\’s softball team for all seven years that she played. He would wear the team colors on a scarf I fashioned and sat in the bleachers looking for snacks and affection from any nearby spectators. As time went on, his celebrity grew on our town of more than 25,000. People who met him fell in love with him almost instantly when they sensed his gentle, loving nature.

He loved everybody, human and animal alike. Anytime a neighbor child brought over a new kitten, boa constrictor, bunny or cockatoo to show our animal-loving family, Comet was front and center, trying to sniff and eye the newcomer. We never worried that he would harm any creature; he only wanted to be near them. When we visited the vet, he would go immediately to the big fish tank in the waiting room and plop down to watch the fish. It was hard to tear him away! At Petsmart, he would want to go to the small animal section to look at the rats and hamsters and he genuinely seemd to enjoy them.

He  had a way of knowing when someone was sad or not feeling well. He would never criticize, lecture or say \’I told you so\’; instead he simply laid his precious head in one\’s lap and suddenly things seemed a bit better.

He loved nothing better than riding in the car and an especially memorable trip to Gettysberg was his favorite. With our 15 yr.old son and 6 yr.old daughter in tow, he climbed every hill and rock they could find and my best memory is of the three of them smiling from atop a tower at Little Round Top. He was so proud.

He loved to go from NJ to Grandmom and Grandpop\’s house in PA for every holiday. The second we reached the bridge over the Delaware River, about 20 miles from their house, he would stand up and begin to whine and wag his tail. He knew that we were almost there! Once there, he latched onto Grandmom, whom he adored and followed her around the rest of day. My mom loved him as well and they were wonderful friends!

The years went by too qucikly and suddenly, Comet\’s beautiful tan face was white. He slowed down and it got harder to get into the car. We rigged up some wooden steps to help him into the car until he couldn\’t climb anymore. Read the rest of this entry »

Hanky

In the autumn of 2007, when Resuing Sprite came out i wanted to read it – i couldn’t however because i had just found out that my 11 year old Rottweiler had cancer. After 5 surgeries and watching him get sicker I finally had to let him go in Sept 2008. Like you know – it still hurts so bad we just about can’t stand it. Hanky was a 125 pound lap dog – he was my walkies partner and one of our best friends. (My husband’s walkies partner, Baxter, a beautiful pitbull chow mix, who we rescued from the Humane Society 11 years ago is still with us – another best friend.) My husband bought Rescuing Sprite for me for Christmas – it hurt to read it but it helped too – thanks! Today I have a new walkies partner – Jake – a fantastic Border Collie/Aussie mix. We rescued him from the Yelm Animal Alliance – believe he’s about 5 years old so hope we get a long time with him. Nothing beats coming home to a smiling dog face everyday – thanks for helping more dogs have the chance to keep smiling.
Teta from WA