This past Christmas (yeah, that’s right – CHRISTMAS – not holiday season!) I was exchanging gifts with the love of my life. She laid out the gifts that she bought for me and told me to take the one that I wanted to take first. Well, I am a simple man so; I took the smallest one first. As I tore the paper open, tears began to fill in my eyes. It is so hard to explain this but, I will do my best. My gift was “Rescuing Sprite.” I knew that this body of work about Mark, his family, Pepsi and Sprite was something that he had put his heart and soul into. I knew that there was a lot of emotion wrapped between those covers and it touched me and I knew already of the ending. Now, I was going to share with Mark and his family, the “Joy and Anguish” of the life of Sprite.
I finished unwrapping the rest of my gifts but I never let go of my new book. I could not wait to read this and share the emotion with him. It was a beautiful story of giving and receiving unconditional love. Mark – Thank you for your book.
Since I read this book, I must say that my life in reference to my dogs has changed significantly. I always give Lou and Paddy my attention but it is different now. I see them through a different set of eyes and circumstances; especially with my Paddy O’Malley.
She is a rescue dog that I adopted from a Japanese shelter when I was stationed abroad. She has been with me for 13 1/2 years now and I know the end is coming just in the way that she acts. She cannot see nor hear very well and she does not get around so well. Even with the medicine, I know that she is coming to the end of her journey.
I travel every week and my weekends with her are short. When I come home, I lay beside her as she is always sleeping when I get there and talk to her and love on her. She always responds so positively.
I know that I will have to give her up some day and probably sooner rather than later. I just hope that she knows how happy she has made me being a part of my life. I know I tell her all the time and I think she knows. She has traveled around with the world with me and she is something that I will always have in my heart.
Thank you Paddy Girl…

Dan from IN

Hey Mark! i finished reading your rescuing sprite book. i read it in about 2 or 3 days. i found it very touching. Sprite sounded like a great dog and im called he had a great life with you. This august my first dog passed away so i know what your going through.  I\’m sorry about your loss of sprite. i loved the book; it was one if my best christmas presents. p.s. tell pepsi i said hello.

Devin from NY

Dear Mark,
I’ve never written to any one on the internet before, but I need to do this. I just lost my dog Chuey Dec 5,2008. My husband bought me your book Rescuing sprite. He felt it might help with my healing. Its taken this long to finish it. Chuey had become unexpectedly sick that friday my husband was away on business. I rushed her to the vet were she had surgery. I wasn’t able to stay with her because of circumstances, something I greatly regret, Igot the call saying there was nothing they could do. they put her to sleep. I promised her everything would be ok and I;d be back the next day for her.

The next day I was there paying her final bill. I sitll can see her little trusing face. I’d given her a kiss on the nose not knowing it would be my last. The pain is great. I sometimes think I hear her barking or snoring my freind said the same happened to her when she lost her dog. My Chuey used to do “crazy dog”. She brought alot of joy to our life. I miss her so much. I’ve also been told to get a new dog, but I’m not ready, But I know the joy so maybe someday. Thank you for your book It has helped. Chuey was creamated and is in a beautiful bronze container. I’m glad she’s close.Again Thank you.

Susan from PA

Adopted our newest dog, Brisa del Mar (breeze of the ocean) from Mexican missionaries coming back to Calif. She\’s a beautiful 5 year old English Springer Spaniel, and loves her sister Lex.

Jeff from CA

Mr. Levin – I just wanted to thank you for writing \”Rescuing Sprite,\” which I just fininshed. I\’m so glad you decided not to abandon the project! It was a wonderful book. I cried, cried, cried at the end but it was good for me because my dog, Kip, is an 11-year old German Shepherd, and I have to start to face reality. Even though she\’s had a few set-backs recently, I continue to return to denial by thinking she\’s \”fine\” and will be indefinitely. Of course, that\’s what I want to believe. I can\’t bear the thought of losing her. I was terribly depressed when she got sick, so I have to brace myself. I can well understand your grief and you needn\’t be ashamed of feeling. It\’s a good thing to feel things. God bless you and your family.

Lynn from OR