Dear Mr. Levin,
I just wanted to write you a letter to thank you for writing “Rescuing Sprite.” It was a beautifully written book and, although difficult at times, a pleasure to read.
I was given the book this past July after my family dog, Max, passed away. A friend of mine from work, who is a listener of your radio show, thought of your book after I told him my sad news. He left it in my desk drawer for me. When I saw the book, I wanted to return it to him. I thought it would be too painful to read. My friend told me to take my time and hang on to the book. It was only recently that I felt ready to read it. I cried most of the way through, as all I could do was think about Max. I could relate to some of Sprite’s conditions with Max. Even so, as I was reading…I could feel a real connection with a fellow dog lover. I felt like you were writing my own thoughts. I’m sure everyone who has read this book feels the same way.
My heart goes out to you and your family over the loss of Sprite. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Max. This past Christmas was hard without him. I’m sure the same goes for Sprite. I hope that Pepsi and Griffen are doing well.
For some reason I feel like giving you a little background about Max. I know you are a busy man, so I will try not to take up too much of your time.
Max originally was my grandma’s dog. She lived in Florida with her husband and one day they just decided that they wanted a pet. She actually wanted a cat, but when Nick, her husband, saw Max…that was it. He was coming home with them. Max was a Maltese and very cute, affectionate and playful. He was raised my loving retired people who adored him. He was a constant companion and brought great joy to their lives. I was very jealous that they got him. I wanted a dog too. I was about 14 and living in California (I am currently 27). I’d wanted a dog for as long as I could remember and used to put it at the top of every Birthday and Christmas List. My parents had a dog, Cassie that passed away when I was 4. I still remember her. She was a Border Collie and Aussie Shepard mix. My brother and I were her little lambs and she looked out for us and protected us. She was my mom’s dog before she met my dad. Well, after Cassie passed my dad was so grief stricken he did not want to ever have another dog again. So no matter how much begging, pleading, wining and trying to convince my parents I would be completely responsible I could not have a dog. So when my grandma got Max I could sort of vicariously have a dog. I enjoyed going out to Florida every few years. Read the rest of this entry »
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George Gershwin is a very special cockatiel. Born with some sort of cataract-type flaw on his corneas, he was blind before his first birthday. One of the ladies at the pet store where I worked told me that they’d gotten some new baby birds and one of them had bad eyes. She said it was a shame as this bird was very friendly and would climb onto your finger without hesitation (most small birds in a pet store quickly become traumatized by strangers constantly reaching into their enclosures and they generally run away from people) I saw a sweet little creature that would have special needs.
I knew I was the human for him and I am now making arrangements for his 10th birthday celebration (next month). As we live in the New Orleans area, I figure a Mardi Gras King cake would be the way to go. George likes music, I used to play classical for him but after too much NPR his left wing grows unwieldy thus I supplement the classical with rock and roll and I frequently play my guitar for him (I wrote a song just for him and he always starts chirping when I play it.). He can whistle and speak. His ‘Variations on a Theme by Andy Griffith’ is constantly rehearsed and re-arranged. He is truly a wonderful pet and has brought so much pleasure into my life that I am at a loss to put into words what he means to me. Being blind hasn’t affected his quality of life – I spoil the hell out of him. The only drawback is that sudden or sharp sounds tend to startle him thus when ‘The Great One’ starts “expounding” it makes George uneasy. I have to explain to him that Mr. Levin is one of the good guys and that he (George) has nothing to fear. One really interesting thing about George is that he is an accomplished escape artist with a knack for climbing. Once he got out of his playpen and was walking around on the floor. I watched for a few minutes as he walked all around the room BACKWARDS. He was using his tail feathers like ‘curb feelers’ so he wouldn’t run his face into a piece of furniture. Some people would say George was lucky that I found him. No, I am the lucky one.
Mark from LA
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Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels.
I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.
As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.
A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
Ken from TX
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Just wanted to send a note to say that last night, Friday, January 9, I cried right along with Ben\’s dad, and said a prayer for both of them this morning, the day Ben is going to Rainbow Bridge.
Sincerely,
Gwen from IL
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In July 2008 I went to PetSmart to buy dog and cat food. I can’t stop myself from walking past the “Cat Romm” where several kitties are just waiting for that special person. I noticed tied to the table leg outside that room a Boston Terrier sitting very quietly all by himself. Over 8 years ago I was missing my little dog who had just died and began a search for someone who would fit into our home along with my Siberian Huskey Sheba. (Also a rescue) I researched the Boston and was intrigued by the breed but could not find one available. I brought home instead a Shih Tzu puppy we named Schatz. But on this day in July, this very sad looking Boston caught my eye. I went over to him and sat on the floor next to him stroking his head. A lady approached who was his foster mom and a member of AC Paws (rescue group) she told me that his name was Jasper and that he was 8 years old. She then showed me pictures of him from that January when he had been seized from his owners for abuse and severe neglect. Jasper was so malnurised that he was just a bag of bones and had no fur, only what looked like fish scales. My heart went out to this old man as he had lived through what no animal should ever endure. I told her a am the Human Resource Manager for the local Lowe’s store and I have a building full of dog lovers. I promised I would help find him the right home. I then attempted to stand up and leave. As I tryed to stand, Jasper got up and climbed into my lap making it heart wrenching to leave him. I gave Carol my business card and told her I check back with her in a few days.
When I called Carol, she told me I was the only one who had shown any interest in Jasper and that AC Paws had even featured him on the internet as their pet of the week. She asked me if I would consider fostering him for a week or so. I knew exactly what that meant. I brought him home and he and my Schatz hit it off great. I also had my son’s adoped German Shepard, Janie with me at the time and that was a handful.
Read the rest of this entry »
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On 8/14/2006, the most wonderful little dog was born. Turbo was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who had more personality than most people I have met in my 26 years. He would always pop his head up in the window when I’d come home from work, come bounding up to me, excited beyond measure to see me.
On 11/23, I took him to the vet because he had stopped eating, and couldn’t keep anything down. Later that day after doing x-rays it was discovered that he had eaten electrical cord, and it had caused strangulated intestines.
On Saturday, 12/13/08, two surgeries later, and after multiple weeks of hospital stays, the vet said that it looked like he would be able to come home on the next Monday, but it was never to be. At 2:15pm on December 14th, our little Turbo went into cardiac arrest and they were unable to revive him. We still feel his loss every single day, and will never, ever, forget the little guy that stole our hearts with simply one look.
Clint from FL
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