You would have loved Ling Ling our Shar Pei. One of my speech students brought her to class one night and spoke about the breed. She was nine weeks old. By the time the class was over my student had a B- (not that great a speech) and I had a puppy.
When she was three she developed a massive tumor at the bottom of the stomach. The vet called to say he had good news and bad news. First she didn’t have cancer, but she would need surgury within 24 hours or she wouldn’t survive. Then he told me he really wasn’t equiped to do such an operation and I’d have to take her to Iowa State University to their veterinary hospital. They were the best.
I packed her into the car and grabbed an othernight bag and headed east to Ames, Iowa.
I’m like you. The accolades to that hospital are endless. They told me they would take very good care of her and then sent me back to Omaha. They told me she wouldn’t need to see me until she was well, but after the surgery they called me every four hours to note her progress.
When i was finally allowed to return to the hospital they took me into a room and showed me a film of the inside of her stomach. Absolutely fascinating.
Lingy lived another nine years, aabout three years longer than normal for the breed. i watched the decline and finally, one day knew I had to take her to the vet again–for the last time. She got out of the car, but as we walked toward the building, she collapsed. The staff came out with a stretcher and carried her into an exam room. The doctor came in and said,”You know she won’t be going home, but we will make it painless and she’ll just go to sleep.” After the shots, she was gone, but I wasn’t. The doctor said, “You stay here as long as you want so you can say goodbye.” and I did and then I went to the desk and made arrangements for her cremation.
Like you,I buried her under a peach tree I had brought when we moved from Omaha to Idaho a few years later.
The following spring that tree produced at least 5,000 peaches–far too many to can so I gave them away. It was my last act of love to Ling Ling and her last act of love to me.
Because my husband is an over-the-road trucker, I feel the need to have a dog in the house at all times and a few weeks later we found a purebred Scots Terrier than is the joy of my life. We now own a bed and breakfast and the minute a guest enters the house MacGregor is right there, flopped over on her back waiting to have her belly rubbed. You are so right, there is nothing in our lives like our dogs.
God bless you and keep you Mark, you are an great inspiration to those of us who believe in the Constitution and this country.

Dixielee from ID

I have read Rescuing Sprite. It is a wonderful story. We too have a Coke, Pepsi, Sprite and Fresca, so it was especially touching to me.
We lost Coke about 3 years ago to Diabetes and Then added Fresca to our family.

Charlene from NY

Hi Mark,

I’ve been wanting to send a quick e-mail to thank you for writing “Rescuing Sprite.” On February 7 (my birthday) we helped our little 14 year old boy, a black cocker spaniel named Felix pass on. It was the most difficult decision I have ever made. I adopted Felix from a friend at 14 months and he was literally the best thing that ever happened to me in that he made me ready to be a grown-up and have my own family. I am indebted to him. I always say that I would have married him but he never asked! My dad, who has very different political views than I, sent me this book the week Felix died. He loved my dog so much. The day he sent your book, he also sent a picture of the gravestone he carved out of Maine slate for Felix (who we called Poops). We received calls and e-mails from many people who loved him. Amazing, the power of these beautiful creatures. It helped me enormously to have your book with me during this time. Reading your story as I was grieving was a great gift. We’re hoping to get another dog this spring and I have scoured the rescue dog sites online. Because we have 2 small children, many shelters are reluctant to adopt out to families like ours but someday, I will adopt a rescued dog again. I would love to be able to give a home to older dogs as my kids grow up. I thank you for your
dog- loving heart ! Dogs and hearts like ours erase all boundaries that divide…

Peace to you and your family…

Kindest regards,

Cheryl from Maine

I just finished reading your book Rescuing Sprite. I just want to tell you that I know how you feel. I had to put our dog Misty to sleep several years ago she was 16 yrs old and we got her when she was two, she meant the world to me. That is the hardest decision to make. It was about a month afterwards that I was sitting folding clothes and her portrait I had taken was still on the livingroom wall and I just started crying and told my husband that I could not go without a dog in our house to love and take care of. This was a sunday afternoon so I got in my car and went to the local humane society and ended up coming home with another german shepherd/collie mix that looked just like my Misty but her name is Gracie and ever since then we have went back and got her a friend named Prince and he is border collie/doberman. They play and wrestle alot but I could not imagine life without them, I spoil them rotten and they are worth every bit of spoiling that they get. I dread the day when they are gone which I hope won’t be for a long time since Gracie is only four and Prince is three. One day I will try to get my husband to help me send a picture of them to you to see since I don’t know how to do that on the computer, but they are beautiful dogs and I love them with all my heart.

Lisa from PA

My name is Skyler and I was given a copy of Rescuing Sprite by one of my father’s coworkers because of my dogs passing in November. Your story had touched my heart so deeply and I think finally helped me make piece with loosing my dog.
I had my dog for almost 13 years. He was a blonde golden retriever named Shadow and he was truly my dog. I remember being in kindergarten when my dad took me to see the movie “Homeward Bound the Incredible Journey.” I fell in love with the main dog, which was a golden retriever named Shadow. After the movie was over I remember asking my dad if I could get a dog like Shadow. Not really wanting a dog, my dad said “If you can save up your money to pay for one then you can.” For most little kids, they would find this dream unreachable, especially after finding out that $200 was ball park for a golden retriever, not me. I saved every penny I made: birthday money, Christmas money, allowance, I even tried selling my artwork for pocket change. I was determined to get my dog. A year and a half later, I had my golden retriever puppy, my Shadow.
Shadow couldn’t have been a better dog to our family. He was loyal and friendly to everyone. Anyone that came to the door that was greeted by Shadow became his instant friend. I was so proud to have him and to tell others he was my dog. He was truly part of the family. I think that’s why I took his death so hard. It was unexpected and couldn’t have happened at a worse time.
The last few years of Shadow’s life, he had all the ordinary symptoms of an old dog. He got cataracts in his eyes, but he wasn’t completely blind, he slept and lounged around a lot, and he slowed down and it became clear that his joints and muscles were sometimes achy. None of this stopped him from being sweet and very young at heart. He stilled loved being pet on his stomachs and being brushed. He still managed to perform all his tricks for a treat and I think he loved kisses in his face and head the older he got. He showed no signs that anything serious was wrong. Read the rest of this entry »

My story is very simple.We did not have any children but, we had TITAN. Titan was a gran dane doberman mix. Big dog.He was our baby he had his own room and everything. He died several years ago but up this moments that I am writing this lines I still cry every time we remember him. After his death we removed all of his pictures because just looking at them brought tears to my eyes. To the point and, this will sound incomprehensable to many I fall into a state of depresion. We are not replacing him because another lost of a pet that is your life might be not to healthy for me. Thanks a lot for bringing stories like this to light so people are aware that pets need to be love and taking care of no matter what.Well thats all I had can’t keep going tears are fogging my eyes.
Jose from WI