Mark: not long ago, Blue Boy (14 wk-old, blue roan English Cocker) became a member of our family. I had purchased your book before he came to live with us. He is a source of joy to me and my family.

I read Rescuing Sprite and really enjoyed the heartfelt story. Blue Boy was born on December 7, 2008. I have enclsoed his photo.

Tom from MD

I lost my girl, a long-coat German Shepherd after 12 years. She was with me every day for her entire life. She and I were co-therapists for 8 years. When we weren’t working, she came everywhere else with me.

She had instinct and an open heart and she taught me more about treating wounded souls than any graduate school or internship ever could. There are still former patients who email and call to tell about how she changed their lives.

She always had health challenges and the last three years of her life she was sick more than she was well. She never lost her amazing spirit even when she was dying. She died at home, on her bed in the family room. I went to get something for her and came back to find her gone. Losing her was like losing pieces of my soul. I will miss my girl forever but I am so, so grateful for being chosen to be her person.

Thank you for writing your very healing book.

Gibbs from TX

Dear Mark,

I received “Rescuing Sprite” as a gift from my husband and I just can’t bring myself to finish reading it. I am currently at the point where Chris the vet is at your house. I became too emotional to read on and I don’t know if I have the courage to deal with Sprites ending. Somehow I think by not reading on, Sprite will be O.K.

I am a huge animal lover and we have a wonderful Shetland Sheepdog named Romeo. He is turning four years old on March 15. He is just the love of our lives. My husband and I have been married for 15 years. We were not able to have children, so Romeo is the son we never had. I work from home and he is my constant shadow. He is actually my best friend. I can’t imagine life without his expressive little face, the great kisses he gives, him cuddled up in my lap, and the love he gives us unconditionally.

I am very moved by this book like no other book I have ever read. I can feel your joy and pain in every sentence. I have cried as if Sprite were my dog.

Thank you for allowing all of us to read your beautiful tribute to such a wonderful friend and family member. Sprite seemed like a gentle soul that came into your lives if only for a moment. I am sure he had a happier life because of you and your family and I am sure you and your family are happier for having known him.

Maybe I will be able to finish the book one day… but today is not the day.

Sincerely,
Chantel from FL

Dear Mark
We have had several dogs over the years. Some we bought and some we rescued. We rescued Shadow a rottwieler because she was nine years old and nobody wanted to take a 140 pound nine year old dog. We couldn’t leave her, we took her home and she lived for two years. I still remember how she looked when she would wander out of the bedroom after her nap, ears back and body wiggling with a big smile on her face.

After she died we saved Roxy a rotty husky mix in January 05, she was on the last chance list in Anchorage and she was only nine months old. Then I bought Sober a rotty in February for my husband on valentines day. Then in July Chubba was born he was the cuttest little brown pomeranian, he was just under one pound. He fit in one hand. As he grew with his brothers and sisters he grew fatter and fatter. The women who owned them gave each puppy a name so she could refer to them. She named little Chubba Chub Chub. He only lived with us for five months before he died when he was seven months old. I would take his sisters Roxy, Sober, and Chubba cross country skiing. Usually at some point I woudl have to pick him up and put him in my jacket and finish our ski. Read the rest of this entry »

My story is much too long to write. We rescued an 11 year old spayed Dalmatian named Reba. After she came home with us, the person we got her from said she was 13, and not spayed. We already had 2 Dalmatians and Reba loved being a member of the pack. We only had her 6 months before a blood disease took her from us. We lost two other Dalmatians at too young an age. Earl was 6 when he was diagnosed with dilative cardiomyopathy. Once diagnosed, a dog is given no more than 3 months to live. Every time we left the house, we didn’t know if Earl would be alive when we got home. Earl made it just about 3 months before he got so uncomfortable we had to put him to sleep. Blue was an 8 year old Dalmatian with congestive heart failure. We kept him on many medications, but it wasn’t too long before Blue’s big heart couldn’t keep up with the congestive heart failure and we had to put him to sleep.

All three of them lived and loved life to the fullest to the very end. I miss them all, but Blue was my “silly mama’s boy” and I still haven’t gotten over his loss. Actually, I’m crying now. “Rescuing Sprite” definitely portrays the bond between a family and a dog. A lot of people just can’t understand it. Thank you for writing such a wonderful portrayal.

Karyn from NV

Hey Mark
You know I listen to you on the
radio and read the animal stories every day.
It is amazing how many people
have the same emotions about
their pets.
I ‘ am the one that wrote in
about our Yorkie “Crickett”
She had this ability to know
when I was needing some
cheering up. I put some
music on the CD player and
pick her up and we would
Dance she would cuddle and smile and sounded like she was humming..
I know … I want another
dog but still cannot bare the thought of going through
that
pain again of saying good-bye.
Reading these stories of others Help.. Love seeing
the pictures also and your
pics too..

Thanks again

Faye from Ohio