At my father’s insistence, I am writing to you. My father is a staunch republican in Texas and listens to your show regularly. When he learned of the passing of my Black Lab (Zeb), who was 13+ years old, he suggested I read your book and to contact you. So here I am.
Like you, I have been an animal lover all my life with dogs at the top of my list. At one point, I thought I wanted to be a Vet. That ended when I was about 8 years old and saw how they checked for worms! ;-) When I was in my early teens, one of my older sister’s came to visit and brought her black lab along. I absolutely fell in love with that dog and said if ever I had the opportunity, I wanted a lab. This dream came true on Thanksgiving of 1994. While I was living in Minnesota, a friend of mine in Texas told me about a friend who had a litter they were selling. I got my LAB! Truly an event to give thanks for. He went thru many trials and tribulations with me, including a separation and divorce from 1998-2000. After that, he became my confidante, my protector, my companion. In 2004, I remarried and moved to California. My new husband loved him almost as much as I. Last month, February 2008, there was an incident at the house that caused Zeb to require emergency surgery. A dear friend, who happens to be a Vet Tech, helped me so much with after-surgery care. He was with her when he made a “run for it” and that was all his heart could take. This happened on the morning of February 14 – yes, Valentine’s day. Her mother is an amazing writer and copyrighted this poem for me and I would like to share it. It reminds me so much of a church song our Lutheran church would sing for Baptisms, “Borning Cry.”
I have also attached a picture.
Thanks for reading.

Sandy from CA Read the rest of this entry »

Mark, I do not have a dog or an animal of any kind at the moment due to the fact that my wife was bitten by a dog when she was young and she still has the nightmares.
It is amazing how you have transformed my heart to feel an urgency to take care for these little creatures since I started listening to your show. I was born and raised in East Africa and currently living in Springfield, Missouri. In my country we are not very attached to animals as one may think but I can never hold my tears back when I hear dog stories on your show.
Mark, thank you…your show is more than a meeting for innocent, intelligent and self reliant people. Please give my special thanks to your family who lets you inform us about the danger we face on a daily basis. Mark your blessings will be given to you in heaven.
Thanks my brother…I love you and you beloved audience.
Albert from MO

Not long after my daughter was born, and being in a wheelchair (birth defect) my wife and I both agreed that she could learn something about responsibility by having a friend who wouldn’t care that her legs didn’t work.
My daughter named her new friend, Pookie, after the Soupy Sales handpuppet, and this little mutt became our friend and protector. I called him, affectionitly Dummy Dog, only because he was so friendly, he would occasionally “crash” into walls and such, by running too fast in the house – but he was no dummie. As out protector, he would bark at anyone who he considered a threat, if they walked pass the house, and if he didn’t know them – but if you were friendly to us, you automatically became his friend.Of all people, his “best” friend was the mailman, who always had a treat for the Pook, and he would pull on his leash and get excited when he saw the postman.
As my daughter was bussed to school, the Pook would wait by the window, getting restless when she was about to come home. He would run on the bus, give any and all of the other kids a kiss, and then run into the house with my daughter.
Our saddest day was when he took a nap, in his favorite place near the radiator in the living room, and when to sleep. I was called home from work, to meet my daughter when she got off the bus, and there she questioned, not only why I was home, but where was Pookie. If you have never heard a person wail, then you have been lucky. With tears on our cheeks and pain in our hearts, we had told our daughter that the Pook was no longer with us. However, we are glad that he didn’t suffer, he was among his family and he was waiting for my own dad when he passed away.
So, it must be true, all good dogs go to heaven, and Pookie is now among friends.

Ed from NJ

I read your book, and it will help me with my dog, wickett. he is suffering with arthritis and cancer. it is beginning to get hard to keep him comfortable. i ive alone and i love him dearly. thanks for your show and sprite’s story.

Jim from MI

Hi Mark, you sound like the nicest man. I had a beautiful dog, collie/english sheepdog mix, also named Pepsi. We had him for 10 years, and he died suddenly. It took me a year to just get past his death. I was so, so heartbroken. He was a loving, gentle dog. My son grew up with him. I still miss him. Only when my dad died a year later after Pepsi did it take my mind off of him, temporarily. God Bless you Mark, you sound like a wonderful person.

Linda from CA

Dear Mark,
I read your book “Rescuing Sprite” on the airplane while heading to my family’s ski trip just after Christmas in 2007. I was actively preparing myself for my final months with my dog, Sally, a 14 year old shelter rescued Gordon Setter/Cocker mix. I cried through parts of your book and learned from it. You gave me the idea that my vet could travel to my home when the time came. For that I am truly grateful, because Sally left this world while lying peacefully in her own bed.

In an effort to overcome the loss and pain that I feel after losing my longtime canine companion, I am directing some of my energy towards volunteering at the Northwoods Humane Society in Forest Lake, MN. This “not for profit” shelter helps over 1,000 companion animals per year to find new homes.

This spring, I’m participating in the 10th Annual “Furry Scurry Walk with the Animals” to raise funds for the NHS. This 3 mile walk takes place on May 4th. My goal is to raise 0 or more if possible.

If your listeners are interested in helping me to reach my goal for this worthy cause, please visit my personal pledge site at: http://furryscurry.golfreg.com/memoryofsally

A grateful dog lover in Hugo, MN.
Cathy

P.S I’m attaching below my “Ode to Sally” which may be too lengthy for the website. Read the rest of this entry »