My beloved Chow, Jodie passed away on August 5, 2007 at the age of 11 1/2. I was given Rescuing Sprite as a gift from my father-in-law for Christmas. I just got brave enough to read it a couple of months ago. Very heartwarming and touching.
I am currently in school to be a licensed veterinary technician after getting a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1999. I will graduate from Veterinary Technician school in May!
Just a couple of weeks ago, I decided to be on the lookout for a new dog. Working in a wealthy part of Richmond, it is very rare to see a dog in need of a home. On cue, a client brought us a dog she rescued from being euthanized at a local animal shelter. I have named her Ardelia… and she is MINE. She has a long road ahead of her, however, because of: complete emaciaton, a broken tibia and fibula, multiple gunshot wounds, and a completely broken tail. Her sweet spirit has warmed my heart beyond words. I don’t know how I will pay her vet bills, but the doctors I work for will work with me to pay everything off in time. I didn’t know this site took pictures, so I will make sure to get some. She looks really rough right now, but she LOVES people which is amazing to me as she has been treated so horribly. We estimate her age to be about 1 year. I can’t wait to watch her blossom. I just hope she can make it through everything as she is quite debilitated right now.

Amy from VA

“Daisy” was a mess, poor old girl. When I saw her photo online, I knew I had to meet her. Our dog, Molly had passed away not long before and I felt I was ready for a new friend. I arrived at the shelter and found a mess of a dog. Her fur was so dirty and matted. Her paperwork had her listed as a cream poodle, picked up as a stray, around 10 years old or so. She hadn’t been spayed. Her eyes were clouded over with cataracts. I could see that she’d had a difficult life and knew she needed someone to help her. I have a soft spot for senior dogs, for the “underdogs” that might not have a chance.

Without hesitation, I adopted her. I took her immediately to my groomer, Joyce who did a double take when I walked in the door with her. I don’t know that she’d ever seen a dog in her condition but I knew she was up to the task so I left my new (old) girl in good hands and headed home to prepare for her arrival.

With mixed feelings, I putted around the house wondering if I’d made the right decision by adopting a dog so soon after Molly’s death, let alone a senior dog with potential health issues. Molly had been with us for 14 years. She was a border collie mix that we’d adopted at the pound when she was 6 months old. She was a sweet old gentle soul who’d never have harmed a flea. One day several years earlier, I stepped outside and found Molly gently licking the back of a little alligator lizard. That lizard was in heaven, thoroughly enjoying a back rub! Read the rest of this entry »

Hi Mark, You will be pleased this past December we adopted a rescue dog. Our old dog Cha Cha had died two year previous and we were devastated like all pet owners when they lose a part of their family. My husband was reluctant to get another dog all of that time although I could have sooner. We happened to babysit our neighbors new puppy, a Bearded Collie and we both fell in love with her. One day I decided to go to Petfinders.com on the Internet and searched Bearded Collies up for adoption. Holly was the first one listed and something about her description and photo just told me she was the one for us. Anyway, I asked my husband what he thought and showed him her photo and he said go for it……so we went thru the adoption process and arranged to pick her up in St George, Utah and the foster parent met us half way. We made the best choice ever and she is now a happy, healthy bundle of hugs and kisses. She has made our lives full of lots of laughs and fun and look forward to many happy years. I have never read your book although I intend to buy it…and despite the tears that I know will come because we can relate to your lost of Sprite. We have had 4 dogs in the past…all strays who found us and they were all wonderful and still in our hearts. Holly was found wandering in a remote area in Wyoming and the foster parent said had she not been seen that nite on a lonely road she would have not made it due to the extreme cold.
God was lookiing after her and we thank Him for bringing her to us.
We enjoy your programming so much and Bless you for all you do.
Susan and Ron from AZ

Mark,
I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite. I couldn’t get through the last half of the book without a box of tissues. I had to put one of my beloved shelties to sleep Dec. 8, 2007 and all the emotions and conflict you felt for Sprite I felt for my Sadie. I’m so glad you decided to write the book. As animal lovers, I believe we are a unique group, because people who don’t own animals don’t know the love, affection and devotion our fur friends give us. Thank you
Yvette from RI

I’ve been a dog lover all my life, but I met my Heavenly Dog–my canine soulmate accidentally one day when I stopped by the Humane Society to search for a companion for my mom. Dolly was a beautiful but viscious blonde pom who was so quick to bite, Tammy, the director wouldn’t even put her up for public adoption. When I began to coo at the little blonde pom that day, she lunged at me, snapping. Tammy encounraged me to adopt Dolly, but said it would take some time for her to get accustomed to me. I visited Dolly every day for a month. On my lunch hour we would go for a walk. When she bit through my thumbnail one day, I asked Tammy if I should give up and give someone else a chance. She told me I was Dolly’s last chance, so I decided to take her home. She started out in the back seat of my car and by the time we got home, she was in my lap. We’ve been best friends ever since. She was obviously abused. The story Tammy got was that she came from a puppy mill. Because of Dolly, I’ve learned about unconditional love and many other lessons, God has used her to teach me. She is my constant, loving companion. She’s recently been diagnosed with kidney problems which has put her on a kidney diet. For a dog who loves turkey legs more than life itself, that’s hard, but through prayer, we are dealing with the Science Diet K/D and learning to love it. I’m reading Mark’s book about Sprite. I’ve been a fan since I began to hear him on Sean Hannity’s radio show. I’ve been a daily listener since day one. Thank you, Mark, for your love of all things canine!!

Nancy from TX

Dear Mark,

Thank you for writing “Rescuing Sprite”. We have all lost our “friends of man” as I call our dog pals, in the past two years. My mother in law lost Chief the Dog, a dog that she adopted around nine years ago who was a shepherd collie who wound up with bad dysplasia, I think. Chiefy had a good run, and “Mom” told me that Chief came to her ina dream and said, don’t worry, you will see me again, then he went of and barked and played! Sue, my sister in law, lost Fred, a big, goofy golden retriever with the most hideous WOOF BARK. Fred had a good run. But no friend of man was like my husband Skitch’s ‘Queenie the Dog”.

Queenie was like your Sprite. She was not supposed to live, really, she was the last dog from a litter that my husband Skitch’s best friend John’s dog had. She was a “Heinz 57”, too. A Shepherd Terrier who looked like an Italian greyhound.She did live though — to be 16. The day we put her down was one of the saddest days we ever had. We took her to Bull Run Animal Hospital and we said goodbye, and held her paws and sang to her. She had the biggest brown eyes, but she knew it was time to go. And we will see her again. She is chasing a rabbit or a squirrel just like she did in the sand pits in Central, NJ –thank you for your book — I am sure Sprit and Queenie have met up in dog play land in the big sky! I bought your book and gave it to my Mother in Law – and she cried!

I still have Freckles, a lab hound who thinks he is a person – 9:30 PM he barks for everyone to go upstairs and go to bed — lights out! He is just about to turn 9 — we gound him at the Farquier County, VA animal shelter when he was 4 mos . old. He has three freckles on his chin and was supposed to be a beagle, so my son tells me (grin)

We love you, you old sentimentalist! Especially when you denounce Hillary “her thighness” (LOL)

Abbe from VA

Queenie the Dog