Just wanted you to know I gave your book as Christmas gifts and the one that especially blessed my heart was for my soon to be mother in law who is on dialysis. She had a boxer named Mike that had been her love and joy that had died unexpectedly…she still has his portrait in the living room and talks of him frequently.

I knew she would love reading about Sprite during her treatments. She said she cried and just loved it! I dont know how long we will have her with us, but I am so tickled that I found the perfect gift of love for her this Christmas! Thanks Mark…. we love you and love your special story!!!!

Teri from OH

Mark

I have a bit of bad news to share with you. My friend just lost his best buddy Sunday, his black lab “Seawolf”. He was only 4 years old. My late doberman “Satellite” was Seawolf’s best dog friend. So many days I would bring Satellite over to play with Seawolf. They would play for hours. They think Seawolf died from cancer cause he was acting the same way Satellite did in his last days. Sad that both dogs die from cancer at very young ages Satellite 12/24/06 and Seawolf 1/27/08. Now my dog Lucky has no dog buddy to play with anymore unless there happens to be a dog at the dog park. I told my friend that now Satellite has his old buddy to play with once again.

RIP Satellite and Seawolf.

Joseph from FL

I had my doubts about adopting a six-year-old Shih-Tzu who was on her way to the pound because her owner could no longer care for her. I was reluctant, but I gave it a try. That was seven years ago. Seven years that went by too quickly, for both of us. Seven years together, many of which we had only each other…me and my shadow. Seven of the best years of my life up until three days before Christmas when that little 14-pound wonder took her last breath as I held her in my arms.

Her name was Maddie. She was a blond/caramel tri-color Shih-Tzu, who thought she was much bigger in stature, so I nicknamed her Matterhorn. I wasn’t even sure what Maddie was as far as breed; until I took her to the vet for her first check-up I thought I had a Maltese!?! The vet cleared that up for me quickly.

Maddie was quite spry. She would accompany me on 5K walks quite frequently, although I’d end up carrying her the last 1 1/2 miles. Maddie was also attitudinal; she had a way of talking to you in disapproval. She didn’t so much as bark, but had a sound she made more like that of Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah, wah, …wah, wah, …wah, wah.) She could be a bit of a mule when she chose to exercise selective hearing when playing out in the yard not wanting to come in. Read the rest of this entry »

I wanted to write to you and tell you how much I enjoyed your book, Rescuing Sprite. I too have had to make the decision to put down a beloved dog. Her name was Lucy, a yellow lab. We got her as a puppy when I was pregnant with my 4th child. Somehow this dog knew my condition. When I would take my doctor recommended hour naps to get off my feet this dog would jump up on the bed next to me and put her head on my ever growing pregnant belly.

After my daughter Cindy was born, Lucy took to caring for this child. I would find her sleeping on the floor next to the crib instead of her regular place with my son. When Cindy was able to scoot around in a walker, every time Lucy would pass by Cindy she would give Cindy a “kiss” a big wet lick, much to Cindy’s gasps and giggles. Read the rest of this entry »

Rescuing Sprite was an awesome book!! I cried and laughed and cried some more. What a wonderful way for you to work through your grief and to help others with theirs. It is never easy saying good-bye to a beloved pet and I have done it many, many times. You were lucky to have Chris come to the home where Sprite was most comfortable.

The reminded me how we adopted Ben, an Australian Cattle Dog. Before Ben, there was Cocoa, yes a Chocolate Lab, whom I loved and adored, even though she’d help her self to the refrigerator when she was left alone, and so did my father. In May 2002, my father passed away and I was devastated. He was my best friend. As I was trying to work through my grief, I received news that Cocoa had a blood disorder and was bleeding internally. She had to be put down. I held her head and just kept whispering how much I loved her. It truly was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Even as I write this, I’m crying! A friend said to me that my father missed me so much that he needed a piece of me with him in heaven so he chose Cocoa. Though the statement helped me with my grief for both, I told my husband and son NO MORE DOGS unless St. Francis or Cocoa leads one to us in desperate need. Read the rest of this entry »

Now, I know why they call you the ‘great Mark Levin’..I just finished Rescuing Sprite…I also have a ‘once in a lifetime dog-child’ His name is BubbaRay & he is a standard poodle.. I have spent all my saved cosmetic surgery money to save his life from “BLOAT” and then bleeding ulcers..And I would gladly do it over again and again. We feel about him as ya’ll do about Spritey…his nick-name is Bubbie..I am a retired flight attendant and we don’t even travel anymore because it is simply no fun without him by our side..
I gave up my job from American Eagle about 8 yrs ago when our beloved ‘Louis’ developed diabetes and needed insulin shots every 12 hours..I am proud to say that he lived into his 19 yr and had a stroke in bed next to me on New Years morn of 2001…But my BubbaRay somehow crosses a line and is part of our souls. I had his actual paw print tattooed on my lower back with a little red heart for my 60th birthday just this 1/23 .. I have NEVER had a tattoo before but this seemed the thing to do.
Mark, may you find comfort in knowing that Sprite waits for you ..Bless you and yours!

Carrie from MS