I received Rescuing Sprite for Christmas. I have put off reading it, because I know I’m in for a rough ride. Being a sucker for a sad story, especially involving pets, I knew I had to read it. I am reading it slowly, savoring the good times. About half way through and I can’t help but feel the magnitude of what’s coming. It brings back Trixie, Lucky, and Miles. The “Mutt”, the rescued Shepherd, and the Yorkie respectively. We have all been thrown a curve ball in life with the discrepancies in life spans. We can’t go through life with the joys without the sorrows. I feel bad when someone who has just lost their best friend swears off on owning another pet, though I understand. They usually come around after a while. We just can’t do without that unconditional love they so seflessly give. I know we are all better human beings from the lessons our pals have given us, all without them “saying” a word. Live, Love, and yes unfortunately anguish,but focus on the in between times. Thank you Mark for sharing Sprite and Pepsi with us and for revealing the softer side I knew you had, in spite of your big magnificent voice.
Sincerely,
Ray from NY

I purchased your book, Rescuing Sprite, shortly after Christmas. I had a gift card to Barnes & Noble so I was able to get one of your autographed copies. I bought it as a “reference” because we had just celebrated Little Bear’s 14th year with us on December 14. In the past two years, he had lost most of his hearing, and his back legs were showing signs of arthritis.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, we had determined that Little Bear would have to stay on the lowest level of our townhouse. We were afraid that he would attempt to continue going up the stairs and fall and hurt himself. Little Bear was a Giant German Spitz. In the 14 years we had him, we found very little information regarding this breed. The one article we did secure indicated that they were companion/work dogs. Little Bear LOVED people! He came to us in 1993 when my husband was a Park Ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. We figured that he must have gotten away from his owners while they were sightseeing, although he had no identifying tags on when he was found. We soon learned that he did not like other animals, not even other dogs. Little Bear was not a “barker,” but when he saw a wild turkey or an opossum, he would bark. Most of the time, his only indication of making a sound was a whimper. He was the perfect dog for us because both my daughter, Sarah, and I do not like “yappy” or barking dogs. He was also perfect for living in apartments because no one was ever aware that he was around.

After my divorce eight years ago, we were able to bring Little Bear indoors. He had lived in a fenced-in pen for six years. We learned that he was, indeed, house-broken and had even been trained to offer his paw. When we went out of town, we had numerous friends and neighbors take care of Little Bear. We always received glowing comments of how well behaved he was in our absence, although he tended to eat less because he missed us. When we could, we took Little Bear with us if the hotels were pet friendly. My niece in NYS had a large basement where Little Bear would stay when we visited them. Eventually, that had to stop because her little boy had allergies. Thankfully, last summer, we were able to take Little Bear with us when we visited Upstate NY and, also, when we attended a wedding in Ohio. He was a great traveler and seemed to genuinely enjoy the sights. Walking him at rest stops was another story since we had to dodge the other dog walkers with their pets. Read the rest of this entry »

We lost our German Shepherd in February to a cancerous heart tumor-yesterday would have been his seventh birthday – We have his full brother Carter and that made it an even sadder day.. I cannot believe the loss I felt and still feel. I actually felt guilty because I didn’t feel as terrible losing some of our human friends until I read Losing Sprite- thank you so much for this book. The day before Connor died we were out with our horses and our mare saw something out in one of our pastures- we looked and could see that it was an animal just lying in the snow, thinking it was just stuck my husband waded out to where it was and could see that it was a young dog and that she was not stuck in the snow but didn’t seem to want to move. He brought her in on a sled and when we got her in where it was warm and dry we could tell that she was injured and couldn’t walk but could scoot. We examined her and could see that her front leg was broken. We made her comfortable for the night. Connor looked at her and sniffed her and then went and settled down for the night. I had prayed that I wouldn’t have to make the decision to end Connor’s suffering and the time would come when I would know. the next morning Connor came to me and licked both sides of my face and then went and laid down. I knew that things weren’t quite the same as they had been but he did choose to go outside with my husband to do chores and then the next thing I knew Connor had lain down in the snow- we got him a blanket and he went to that and laid down and was gone. the next day was a trip to town to have Connor cremated and to take this pup to our vet. I had named her Annie as in Little Orphan Annie.
We waited all day for all the tests and X-rays – Annie not only had a broken front leg but a fractured pelvis and rib injuries – and a strong will to live- her injuries weren’t new injuries but had already begun healing- which meant that she had been left to die in an empty snowy, freezing environment. We left her with our vet to keep her quiet made plans for her surgeries. Annie’s front leg is presently held together by rods and the inside that screw to rods on the outside. Eventually the outside ones will be removed and she’ll have the ones attched on the inside. We have four more weeks of healing and each day brings more joy and challenges because she doesn’t like her Elizabethen collar and has figured out how to remove it so we take a lot of trips to town to replace bandages. Her ribs and pelvis have healed on their own once she could support her front leg. She’s our Angel Annie and everything seems to have happened for a reason.
My husband underwent an emergency surgery and had a stent put in for a major coronary blockage during this same time- he had no symtoms just extra special doctors! so our life has beehn blessed by Annie and Connor and Carter and all of their friends.

Joyce from WA

When I was, years ago, in deep despair and suicidal, a counselor suggested that perhaps a pet would be of help. He stated that having to take care of it would require me to focus on the pet’s care and would decrease my genuflecting on the negative themes surrounding my life. He was right. I got Layla, a Great Pyreenes, five years ago, and she essentially, saved my life.

She also, with her 120 lbs of protectiveness, prevented a burglar from entering my car and guest house on my property in Phoenix two years ago.

She has been a irreplaceable friend and companion and she always cheers me up when I am down.

She is truly “man’s best friend”

Alan from WA

I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR BOOK RESCUING SPRITE, I HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR 2 DAYS NOW. ONLY ANOTHER DOG LOVER WOULD UNDERSTAND. MAKING THE DECISION TO PUT YOUR PET TO SLEEP IS THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE. I CAN STILL SEE OUR MYRTLE’S (DOBERMAN) EYES LOOKING AT ME WHEN IT WAS HER TIME, I STILL DRY EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE LOST 2 OTHER DOGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. OUT 5 YEAR OLD (HUMAN) ROTTY DIED AND JUST RECENTLY OUR 13 YEAR DOBERMAN DIED IN HER SLEEP (THANK GOD) HER ASHES WERE SCATTERED AT THE LOCAL DOG PARK WHERE SHE LOVED TO GO. I AM A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER HERE IN FLORIDA AND I HAVE RESCUED SO MANY DOGS FROM BAD HOMES AND BAD PEOPLE. WE HAVE A PIT BULL WHO WAS LEFT LOCKED IN A YARD IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST WITH NO FOOD OR WATER BECAUSE THE IDIOTS THAT LIVED IN THE HOUSE HAD BEEN FORCLOSED ON AND DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE DOG. HE WAS 7 MONTHS OLD AND IS NOW ABOUT 12. MY SON HAS A LAB THAT I RESCUED, MY FRIEND IN TENNESSEE HAS A DOG THAT I FOUND, MY NEIGHBOR HAS A DALEMETIAN THAT I RESCUED, I COULD GO ON. WE ALSO HAVE 3 CATS THAT WE RESCUED. ONE IS NAMED JESSIE CARTER AS SHE WAS FOUND OUTSIDE THE CARTER BABY OUTLET BY A WOMAN NAMED JESSIE, SHE WAS ABOUT 8 WEEKS SO WE TOOK HER HOME.

I LOVED YOUR BOOK SO MUCH I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW HOW YOU MADE ME FEEL WHEN I READ IT.

BY THE WAY WE ARE FROM PHILA AND MY HUSBAND GRADUATED FROM TEMPLE ALSO.

THANKS FOR LISTENING.

Eloise from FL

Mark:
My family was shocked to hear you are such a softy dog lover. I remember you talking about “Rescuing Sprite”.

I was even more touched when on Monday I held my best friend of 15 years as he died. For years it was he and I against the world. It is still hard to think about it.

After 20 years in the Army I have seen and caused my share of spilt blood and destruction. Never have I felt this bad.

Knowing that I am not alone in my feelings help and I want to thank you for a message that seemed to be aimed right at me. I would enclose a picture but I am technologically challenged.

KJ from OR