My story begins last Nov. when my husband of almost 24 years found out he had non small-cell lung cancer. They gave him 3-6 mos. Of course you can imagine how our world was turned upside down in a matter of a few minutes. We also had 3 Golden Retrievers that my husband absolutely adored. Chase,8 ,Chelsea,4, & Cheyenne,2. We bought them all as 6 week old puppies.

Chase had medical problems his whole life. Mast cell tumors, two of which were removed by surgery, thyroid problems, which he had to take 4 pills a day. They also put him on Benedryl for his allergies, and he also had hip problems. He was a very large dog. He and my husband were inseperable. When my husband passed away last March, I figured Chase would follow soon after. I wasn’t too far off. Three days before Christmas 2008, I found out Chase had bone cancer and it was only a matter of time.He had been limping badly and I could see it in his eyes he was not well. I got him pain pills because I couldn’t bear to do anything until after Christmas. It was bad enough that this was my first Christmas without my husband, I couldn’t bear the thought of putting my baby to sleep right at that time. But I knew I couldn’t let my baby suffer.

It was Monday Jan. 12 that I decided would be the day. I, too, like Mark & his wife, was struggling with taking him. I cried out to God to please let me know that I was doing the right thing.I went over to my sterio to put on some Chriatian music,which always bring me peace,and I looked down to where my husband had put some books he had received after he found out about the cancer. Low & behold, thete was Rescuing Sprite. I picked it up and started reading through and I found my answer from God.

I, too am grieving for my Chasey, but I know he is with my husband in heaven and he isn’t in any more pain. I just wanted to thank you Mark for writing the book. You said that you almost didn’t and you didn’t think people would want to read about your dog. You couldn’t have been more wrong. Your book let me know that I was doing the right thing even though it is the hardest thing you will ever experience. But we gave Chase the best life we could while he was with us.I have that to hold onto plus I know he and my husband are together again. Thank you Mark & family. You truly are a gift from God to me.
Sincerely,

Deb from OH

Mark,

Thank you for providing this blog for people to post their stories and express their greif about the loss of a pet.
Yesterday I lost my best friend and I dont know what else to do it hurts so much. I can’t stop crying. Roxanne was my 11 year old Boxer who was the love of my family’s life. My husband and two teenagers are so heartbroken. Everything we did she was included and was the topic of so many of our daily conversations because of her dopey goofy ways. She took over our household and our lives and we enjoved every second of it. At the end of the day we woud choose a laugh of the day because everyday there was something that she did
that we keep us in stiches laughing. Till the end she looked and acted like an happy energetic puppy trying to convince us she was ok but we noticed little signs of her slowing down and on Friday she had a siesure while my husband took her on her daily walk that she loved so much. She came thru that but others siesures followed and thank God we were with her comforting her in her last moments. I work from home so she was like my co-worker who kept me company and kept me safe letting no one near our home without her presence being known. I bought your book last year for my sister who lost her dog after a long illness but I read it first because I listen to your show religiously. I cried for your loss and because I knew I would be dealing with losing my Roxanne eventually. We couldn’t bear to bring a new dog into the home while she was here because she was such a diva she would not have allowed it but now I wish we had because this house is so quiet and lonely without her. We’re going to get a new puppy someday but it’s going to have some big shoes (paws) to fill because my Roxanne had such a great personality and was almost human to me. Sorry this is so long and filled with misspelling. Thanks for all you do.

Lisa from NJ

Mark (if I may call you that – I feel I know you after reading about Sprite)

I grieved with you, as I read your moving tribute to Sprite. It is always devastating when we lose our friends. I am sorry for your loss, but I am glad you were able to share Sprite’s life for even a little while.

I have had a variety of dogs, throughout my life. They have been my confidants, my best friends. Growing up in the military, they were very likely the most constant thing that I could always rely on. Right now I have two standard poodles and a doodle mix that I rescued two years ago.

Back when I believed the idiots who said dogs would have no place in our afterlife, “because they have no souls” (can you believe that drivel?) I stoutly stated that if my dogs weren’t in heaven, I didn’t want to go. Well, it was a painful lesson, but almost exactly twenty years ago, God vouchsafed me proof that our “furkids” go on, whether it’s a “rainbow bridge” we meet at, or when we “go to to light.” At the time, we were living in Florida. My mother, who lived with me, was up in Illinois, taking care of her mother, who had terminal cancer, while I stayed behind to care for our dogs. (We bred boxers at the time, and had five adult danes, as well.) Read the rest of this entry »

Murray was not a shelter dog, but he was rescued. We were directed to him, by a Sheltie rescue organization in California. At the time we lived in New Jersey. The caller asked us if we knew were Bridgewater NJ was. It so happened it was right up the road. We found Murray tied to a tree. He was the leftover of a marriage gone south. The women said “just take him” he’s good for nothing. She had two kids; I always wondered what she did with them.

For the 1st year Murray was a handful, he was a runner. If you left a door ajar, he was gone. A few times he got out and we needed to scour the neighborhood for him. One day it dawned on him and he finally realized he had a forever home. He was great, we loved him. Memorial Day weekend 1999. I discovered his lymph nodes were enlarged. Took him to the Oncology Vet and was told he had Lymphoma, stage 3. She explained our options but was not overly hopeful. Murray was put on Chemo. He accepted it like a champ and the Chemo worked. His cancer went into remission. There is no cure for Lymphoma, your just buying time, in an unknown quantity. During this time marching band season started. We worked with one high school marching band, with their music and marching. We discovered Murray had found his calling on earth. Murray insisted on going to the practices. Without any direction from us he started working with the kids, keeping them in their lines. He lived for these rehearsals. He was so energetic and alive. This went on 3 months. Read the rest of this entry »