Our beloved Westie mix, Gus, left us just before Christmas…a few months short of his 17th birthday.

We rescued him from the shelter and from the moment he came into our lives; he brought joy and love. Although certainly not a classic looking dog, his personality shined through and captivated everyone who happened to see him.. He was enthusiastic, energetic, curious and loyal. Even when we took him on our annual camping trip, he’d “count heads” to make sure we were all there and if not, would station himself to wait for the missing person.

We took many walks together and that friendship helped me through some tough emotional times. He was always there, waiting for me after work and I miss him terribly every single day.

I never though a little white dog would worm himself into my heart; but he did and I’m eternally grafeful for that experience.

Roger from CA

Mr Levin-Thank you for your book. I cried. We had 3 Dachshunds, all living to be 13 (2) and 17. We now have a Golden,Casey,going on 4. I keep this little saying in my planner, read it every day, and think of our dogs.

There is no wilderness
like a life without friends;
friendship multiplies blessings and minimizes
misfortunes; it is a unique remedy against adversity, it
soothes the soul.
Baltasar Gracian
God Bless Our Dogs

Tom from OH

Thank You Mark for sharing your story. Even the not-so-much-dog-lovers family members enjoyed your book.

Christine from ID

I feel Mark’s loss over Sprite.
We had a Chocolate colored Miniature Poodle we named Samson. My wife said that we would take the first pup that came to us. Sam was the only one that came to us, as the others were busy playing with each other.
Sam had many special traits, but I will mention two.
One, about five minutes before my wife would arrive home from work, Sam would leave the bedroom where he spent the day, and wait for her at the top of the stairs. He knew the time she got home and did not “hear her car” as he would still be there the same time the days she stopped by the store. How he could tell the time, we do not know, as daylight savings time did not mess him up.
The second trait has to do with Christmas. Sam enjoyed playing with rubber squeak toys. His first Christmas, we got him a couple toys and put them under the tree with our presents. I gave Sam his present and he studied it a few minutes and tore the paper off any played with it.
The next year I wrapped his toys and put them under the tree. The next morning (not Christmas morning) we woke up and he had his package opened. I got him another one and put it under the tree under other packages so he would have one to open. The next morning he had it opened. He had dug it out from under the other packages. He did not bother the other packages other than a couple of small tears where he dug his out. From then on, we had to wait till Christmas morning and put his packages under the tree. He would get them and open them. Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t really have a story, other than the one that just made me cry so hard while I was watching Oprah. I just wanted to tell you to watch the Oprah Winfrey Show today, February 14, if at all possible. I know that it was already on ABC at 4:00 p.m., but, she does come on later, even around midnight on her own channel. One of the Valentine’s Day stories was about the dog “Oogy”, adopted by the Larry Levin family. Other than reading, Rescuing Sprite, it was the most heartwarming dog rescue story that I have ever heard. It will be worth you seeing.

If you don’t get to watch it, you can read it on Oprah.Com (not the same effect – Oogy was also on Oprah).

I read your book, with my dog, Lizzie, (5 pound chinese crested powderpuff) sitting on my lap. My husband listens to your show every day coming home from work and he told me to order the book. Thank you, I loved it. I would read and stop every so many pages to cry and read back the pages to him. Lizzie loved it too.

Thanks for listening.

Arlene from NY

Mark, this isn’t a story, I just wanted to comment on your book. I’m almost done, but I wanted to let you know how important your story about Sprite is for people who’ve lost their beloved friends. I’ve been through it and you never get over it, it just changes. He’s always with you – don’t forget that.

Regards,

Karen from NY