Our story is one of many who have loved and had the best furry baby anyone could. Her Name was Tootsie Roll. She was our heart and soul for one month shy of 11 years. We drove her 13 hours to our home in the mountains because we didn\’t want her to fly in the baggage dept. She would dance down the street in her regal way with her leash in her mouth…all the neighbors would come out and hug her. Unfortunately she left us after we discovered she had a degenerative spinal disease. After a year, when her legs gave out in back, we carried all of her 85 lbs using a tummy sling…and a special cart. We even bought a golf cart so she could see the neighborhood, as she was so used to walking twice a day to see everyone. She is still with us in spirit and gave us so much! Miss you toots! Thank God for dogs!

— Sue from Newport Coast, CA

Our two rescue dogs came into our life on two separate road trips.  We found Sadie on a country road during a day trip to the Reagan Library!  She was covered in cow manure, and didn’t move as we drove by her.  I told my husband we had to stop. We scooped her out of harms way, took her back to our house, gave her food and water, then off the the Reagan Library.  She was pregnant, which we didn’t know at the time, and had 5 beautiful puppies 8 weeks after we rescued her.  We found homes for all the pups!  The next summer, while coming back from the midwest, we stopped at a small market in Arizona, and a sweet little doe-faced dog was laying at the entrance of the market, thin as a rail, and starving.  I looked at my husband again, and you know the rest.  We snuck the pup into the Comfort Inn that night, took her home to California the next day, and Missy has been a blessing ever since.  I believe that we were suppose to find these angels, because they have done so much for us.  They love the dog beach here in California, and our neighborhood dog park.  It doesn’t get much better than this………

— Martha from Corona, CA

This is our beloved Sadie, who left our lives on October 4, 2012. We rescued her from our local shelter, and she gave us the happiest years any dog could ever hope to give. In 2010 she contracted SARDS, a disease that robbed her of her sight and packed on a lot of extra weight. We loved her no less however, and made sure to help her around the house. She still always managed to find her favorite toys. A few days ago she collapsed in our home, her back legs seeming to be almost completely useless. What caused this we don’t know, but we took her to the vet as my wife and I were completely stunned and distressed, and as Sadie herself seemed to be in pain. We had to put her down that same day, and it was and I’m sure will be one of the hardest decisions we’ll ever have to make. For a dog that had been abandoned she was one of the sweetest my wife and I have ever known. Like you said in your broadcast on Friday Mark, I find myself apologizing to her over and over. I’m sure you can sympathize with the pain we’re feeling, for there will never be another dog like Sadie in our lives again. Thank you Mark for your book Rescuing Sprite and for this forum.

— Eric from Kent, WA

This is the story of my little Scottish Terrier Scarlet.  For over ten years she has been a great constant in my life.  Whenever I needed her she was there  to make me laugh.  After hard times here in Las Vegas, we had traveled cross country a couple of times this year and she was the perfect co-pilot.  She started to lose weight and we learned she had kidney failure.  My precious baby went to be with God this past Saturday , the 6th of October, leaving an empty hole in my life forever.  I cannot wait to see her again when I get to Heaven.  Rest well my baby.  All my love to you…

— John from Las Vegas, NV

We have 4 siberian huskies..all rescued. Our last 2 are Abby and Toby, they came from abusive homes.  Casper and Buster are from humane societies.  These are not are first.  We have had a total of 10 rescues in the 18 years that we have been together.  When we move they move with us.  We have them until they pass then rescue another.  They are our kids since our son is grown and married and has given us 3 grandsons. (son from previous marriage)  We want their lives to be better than where they were before.

— David & Pam from Tucson, AZ

Taz is what i call a cocktail weenie….half purebreed and half mutt (im partial to the mutt half lol) he has the MOST loving and playful personality…he makes everyone feel like he has waited his whole life to meet them.  He is obsessed with playing ball to the point he sleeps with it like a teddy bear and takes it to Oma and Grandpas house everyday (he stays with them while i go to work).  I am a big time pusher of getting dogs fixed and always finding homes for lost critters.  My heart melts for them and i wish i could save them all :)

— Nancy from Chowchilla, CA