Someone on a message board that I frequent recently posed a question about what separates us from the “lesser” animals, apart from religion. I responded by listing the lessons I’ve learned from Blackjack, which are as follows:

–If you audibly fart, act surprised and walk away.
–Burp if you really need to.
–Licking your wounds makes them better. Unless you lick too much, then your fur comes off.
–Eat anything that tastes good, whether it’s food or not. Then ask for more if you want more. If it’s not food, it’ll come out one way or another.
–Sleep in sunny patches.
–Cuddle enthusiastically.
–Be beside yourself with joy when you see someone you love.
–Ask for physical affection and you shall receive.
–Drink lots of water.
–Spend time outside on sunny days running around acting crazy.
–Go for walks.
–Enjoy the smells.
–Sleep in your loved one’s room if there’s a big storm that scares you.

I think I’d like to come back as a dog in my next lifetime. Because humans aren’t necessarily the “higher” life form.

Sherlyn from TX

Hi, Mark,
I wanted to let you know that i loved your book, it took me a while to read because i had to keep putting it down, because i was crying.
It reminded me of my luci, she was a shelter dog, part brittany, and border collie, she was also an older dog. she was red and white with the best personality ever, she would talk to us all the time if we didn’t pay attention to her. One day i was home alone with her and all of sudden she fell over and stiffen right up. We found out that day she had epilepsy. So we called the shelter to see if we could find out anything in her past that would help up figure out what we could do. The shelter told us that we could bring her back and we said No way. Just because she was sick didn’t mean we didn’t want her. To me it was like if my child was sick i wasn’t going to give them up.
So we ended up putting her on medication, she was with us for 5 years after that, one night she would stop having these sezuires, and she had a high fever, so we took her to the doctor at about 2.oo in the morning and didn’t expect her to live through the night, but she did. i went to pick her up the next day and she was perky and everything, and then i took her to my vet and he told me that we didn’t know how much damage was done to her brain and that is was time to think about putting her down because it wasn’t fair to her, she used to go blind, and such, it was so hard on her. So my husband and i talked and made that horrible decision. My husband could not go with me to the vet, So i went by myself and stayed with her the whole time. It was the worst thing i had ever experienced in my life. I cryed so hard on the way home i had to pull over. Read the rest of this entry »

My wife has always been a dog lover. I liked dogs but never had really become attached to one. Last October my wife brought home two border collie lab mix puppies. They were frightened and tiny and seemed too small to be away from their mother. My 4-year old daughter named one Shylo and I named the other Tesla.

Although they are sisters they have very different personalities. Shylo is very calm, somewhat aloof and timid and only interacts with the family if Tesla is with her. She mostly ignores us when we call her.

Tesla became everything we were looking for in a dog. She always wants to please us, is gentle with the kids, is very loving, comes when called, is a good watch dog, and has a ferocious bark that would surely scare anyone who didn’t know what a sweetheart she is.

Although Shylo is a little cool toward the family she is a constant companion to Tesla and they run and play all day until they can’t run any more.

Yesterday Tesla was struck by a garbage truck. My wife scrambled to get her to the vet. She couldn’t get Shylo to leave her side. So she had to pick up Shylo and carry her to the house. By the time I got to the vet my wife was in tears and Tesla was gone. Read the rest of this entry »

Loved your book “Rescuing Sprite” Fell in love with the author too. First time I really fell in love with Rush was when he talked about “Pumpkin” and how worried he was about his kitty that was ill. You are two wonderful men. We have an almost 16 year old rescued dog Herbert T. Who we love as much as you love Spritie. He is as my husband says only part dog. His time is coming soon and we enjoy everyday we have with him and all the love he shows us.

We have a new sister for him now Coco that is a year old and just like Pepsi he welcomed her into the family. He loves her as much as we do and watches over her like an older brother. I have aways told my children and grandchildren that dogs are our most treasured animal gift that God has given us. He even named them his name backward to remind us of it. Just one small special thing about our wonderful Herbert T. He actually can speak the words of Moma, I want one, Yummy, yummy and I love you. I’d love to send you a recording and picture of him doing this if you are interested. Your new addition to the family, Griffen is a sweetheart. Thank you for writing the book. We are so blessed that you, Rush, Sean and Glenn enlighten us regarding the truth everyday.

Gary and Vicki from OH

We adopted our beloved Dog from pet haven when she was a year old.She was a German Sheperd and we named her Yoko which means good girl. She lived up to her name.On her birthdays I baked her a cake and took her picture as if she were one of the kids. She also recieved presants. She loved rides in the car, she would put her face out the window with her nose up to the breeze. Even if we spelled the word ride she knew what it meant and would run to the door.
I have so many meaningful stories about her but it would be pages and pages.
She was ten years old when she passed away on 11-11-07. She had her usual ailments for her breed but they were manageable.One morning she was fine when I left for work and when I came home she was dying.I miss her so much and even as i write this , tears are streaming down my face.
I bought the Rescuing Sprite for my husband for Christmas and he loved it.He sais only pet lovers understand.I read the book today and shed alot of tears.
Thank you Mark for sharing so much in your book.It takes a true pet person to share such feelings.
I wonder if I will ever beable to think about Yoko without crying.I miss her wet nose greeting me at the door when I get home from work.
Thanks again Mark for your wonderful book.
Sandi from MN

I just finishing reading your book “Rescuing Sprite” and I wanted to tell you what an incredible person you are. I too am a dog lover and can relate to how you felt when you had to put your loving companion to sleep. I had my NIke for 10 wonderful years. He was the most loyal and obedient dog. We lost him due to a tragic accident. My husband took him to the beach every week for exercise. He loved Nike as he was his best friend. This one day he let Nike out of the truck as he had done many times before. Nike used to run beside the truck until my husband would park it. But for some reason this day Nike ran at the truck and hit it full force. He was killed instantly. My husband was a wreck. He blamed himself over and over and couldn’t forgive himself. I told him it wasn’t his fault as I knew he loved that dog so much. I knew he would never get over it until he had another one to love.

I went out and surprised him with Molly, an overactive Beagle. It took some time for him to come around, but he loves Molly more than ever. At first I couldn’t even think of getting another dog because I never wanted to go through a loss again. But after some time, I realized I needed another animal to love and take care of. You notice I didn’t say another animal needed me as its us who needs them. We have added another dog to our family, Jack who is part Husky and part German Shepherd. There are so many animals out there that are treated horribly. Its nice to know that there are people like you and myself who give them a better life. No one can understand what we have been through unless they love animals like we do. Be proud that you are a caring, compassionate human being as not everyone is as special as you and your wife are…

Sincerely,

Jackie from MA