On 3/11/07 I had to say goodbye to my best buddy, Bambi. She was a 7 yr old Papillon. I got her a few years after a painful divorce because I was lonesome, ornery, and mean. I figured getting a dog would be a good way to mellow me out again. I had a very hard time adjusting to a new “person” in my life and at times it wasn’t easy. Bambi sometimes got some harsh treatment from me, which she didn’t deserve, the first few months I had her.

I am ashamed to admit that one day I almost beat her to death becuase I was so angry. Angry at her, myself, the world. After I realized what I had almost done, I was so ashamed I wanted to die. However, that event was a major turning point in my life when I realized how bitter I had become. She recovered in a matter of moments, and i cried for I don’t know how long. I never beat her again after that, and we became fast friends. She got cancer in november of 2006 and I spent hundreds of dollars trying to make her well. I finally had to put her down, and believe me, I was a basket case for two weeks.

I had her cremated on her 8th birthday, 4/18/07. She was a God send. My family eventually could see the change she had made in my life. I am no longer the bitter, angry old man I once was and the credit goes to a little dog who changed my life. I have 2 chihuahuas and a pekinese/shi tzu mix who live with me now, but I think about “Bambino Tortellini ” everday and still have a crying jag once and awhile, like as I am typing this.

Thanx for the good work you do, Mark, and may God richly bless you and your family.

Warm regards,
Mark from SD

Mark:
I just finished reading your book, which was a gift from my sister for Christmas. She wrote a funny passage in it: “Sis, for all those days you wish you hadn’t.” We adopted a sweet and very timid black, lab mix from our local shelter. He was due to be put down in a week and something in my heart just said we need to see this dog. He was to be a companion to our other dog, Rocky, who we love more than life itself. The shelter had given him the name “Fred” so to not confuse or scare him more; we left it at “Fred.” He is great with Rocky and us, but scared of everything else. He has destroyed one new pair of shoes and his hair is everywhere, but we love him and we know that we did the right thing by taking a chance on him.

I never thought that I could love an animal as much as I love these two dogs and in the last two years, I have lost three of my beloved cats due to old age. Rocky is our “Sprite” and at six years of age, I am hoping that we have many more years together. Fred is only two, so we will cherish our time with both. There were so many similarities between your situation and ours. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I enjoyed the book immensely.

Laura from VA

I read your book this weekend crying through the first half and sobbing at the end. Sprite and my (late) Sadie could have been siblings. I was Sadie’s Mom for 16 years (from 6 weeks) until January 21, 2005.

Kathryn from GA

I just wanted to let you know that my husband bought me your book, “Sprite”. I just finished reading it with tears in my eyes.

Thank you so much for writing such a wonderful book about your beloved Sprite.

We too have two dogs, Lacey (a Boxer) and Cody (a Toy Poodle). I love them both with all my heart. I too could write a book about everything they do. I do not work – I’m disabled with Fybromyalgia. I get to stay at home and take care of my two babies each day. I love my time with them and dread the thought of losing either of them.

They are both such a wonderful part of our family. They bring so much joy to our lives – and I talk to them just as I do our children. For they are our children – only with four legs instead of two! I could tell you so many funny stories about them – but there just isn’t enough space here to do so!

You were so lucky to have had Sprite in your life for 26 months. He was lucky too! If only all dogs could have the life that Sprite had – and Lacey and Cody – the world would be a better place.

If only all humans were dog loves – wouldn’t it be a nice place to live!

God bless you and your family. And of course, Pepsi and Griffen!

Thank you again!

Carolyn from WA

I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite–I smiled and cried all the way through. I’ve been volunteering with animals for almost five years now and I can tell you that every time one of our animals is adopted we hope and pray it is to a family like yours. God bless you for giving a rescue dog such a wonderful life.

P.S. I couldn’t resist attaching a picture of one of my rescue dogs, Master. When we first adopted him he had a perpetual surprised look on his face–like everything in the world was new to him (and he was afraid of much of it.) Now he’s a big cuddler and thinks the world is fun.

Mary from OH

Mark, I just finished reading your book after having had my childhood dog, Ebby, put to sleep. Thank you for the fantastic help in aiding with the extremely painful grieving process!

I thought, perhaps, you might be interested in reading this letter my father wrote to our beloved Ebby. Thank you again!

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January 10, 2008

Dear Ebby,

At the prompting of our college bound son we adopted, you, our pound puppy more than fourteen years ago. Christened Ebony, you were a Lab Akita mix with, we suspect, a hint of Shepherd. Only four weeks old, the name reflected your predominantly black coloring with white marking on the chest and a splash of white “paint” on your paws. Throughout the years you acquired many nicknames: Ebby, Eb, Miss Ebby, Eberlina Girlie, Miss Debbie (go figure) and several too “colorful” to put into print, especially when one of us got cross with you.

Your charm and antics soon made you a full-fledged member of our family. I became Ebby’s daddy, Sue became your mommy, and Geoff your brother. But in reality you adopted us! Sue fittingly often referred to you as the Queen, Princess, or the Little Dictator because you quickly seemed to train us (especially me) to reflect your needs and expectations rather than the other way around.

Yesterday, through out anguish and our tears we celebrated, and continue to celebrate, your all too short time with us by recalling the highlights of your life. How as a puppy you would carry your bed throughout the house until eventually you tore it apart. Or the many times you grabbed articles of clothing from the hamper, socks and underwear were your favorites, and then proudly entered our presence with the shredded evidence still in your mouth. You developed a habit of snatching my handkerchief from my back pocket as I walked past you. To this very day I keep it tucked into my shirt to forestall your thieving ways! As a small pup, you chewed everything from the dining room chairs and the kitchen bar to the portable gate used to keep you in the kitchen when we were not at home. On the vets’ advice we had to use the hottest sauce we could find to break you of this habit. One time you even chewed the linoleum on the kitchen floor. Mommy really wasn’t angry because she now had her excuse to have tile put on the kitchen floor! Read the rest of this entry »