Hi mark..let me start off by saying that im sorry for yrou loss..on aug.29th in 2005 at about 9ish in the morning, i suffered a loss as well…..i had to turn to my dog of 10 years and say “thank you for being the best dog in the world and momma loves you very much stinky…im sorry..momma loves you stinky..”…right before i let his collar go and watched while he swam away from me.. .i turned to grab on to the tree..and turned back to check his progress…and he was gone..i dint see him sink..i dint see him swim he was just gone in a split second…it took all that i had left in me not let go of that tree and allow myself to be swept away with the current…you see,while hurricane katrina was bearing down on us and everyone was evacuating,my family refused to take me AND my animals Read the rest of this entry »

My wife and I adopted a Border Collie (Dusty) from a sick friend my wife worked with. We had Dusty for 14 1/2 years and he was a wonderful dog. Although he was mistreated by a UPS delivery man at ouar hourse, he still remaind a wonderful companion and a family member until his death in 2000. He meant so much to our family that upon his death we had him cremated and I have his ashes. It was not long after Dusty’s passing that my wife of 32years came down with brain cancer and passed away in February of 2002. Now I have lost 2 good friends. But, I have a wonderful miniature pinches “Molly” who is a great companion.

When my wife and I were first married, we adopted a dog from an animal shelter. That dog “Tina” was one of the best dogs we ever had. I miss Tina as I do Dusty.

Thanks for writing Rescuing Sprite. I know that it will move people to adopt dogs that have been abandoned or abused. They deserve a good chance for life.

I listen to your program each evening on my was home from work. I listed via Sirius Satellite Radio. Keep up the good work with your show. You and I believe the same when it comes to conservative views. We need another Ronald Reagan to give this country a much-needed shot of Patriotism!

Bob from FL

Mark,

Just finished your book, my parents gave it to me for Christmas after we lost our Golden Retriever, Bella. She was my best friend over the past 7 years and we, as you, fought to give her the best life after she was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. We tried chemo unsuccessful and she died at our home in our arms. It is by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. She was my first baby, I have a 3 year old boy and 5 year old girl. It has been 3 months since she has been gone and I think about her every hour of every day. Your book has helped me realize that I am not the only grown man that is vulnerable to the loss of a pet.

She was a constant companion and was a member of our church. She was in a ministry at our church that took dogs to nursing and retirement homes. She died on a Sunday night after a visit to a retirement home that very day! God truly used her as a witness to my family and many others who loved Bella. I drove her every 4 weeks to chemo treatment 2 hours away and she never complained once. I took her and had her cremated and have her on shelf in our home. Thank you for your book. I do not feel alone anymore. Here is Bella’s memorial: http://www.bellatips.critters.com/

Cory from MS

I just finished reading your book and have to say thank you for sharing what so many others feel. I sit here watching my phoebe, a 15 yr old lab who came to live with us from a shelter at the age of around 4 or 5…she has helped us through the death of my mother and mother-in-law husband and son(all within a 2 yr period)…now my sons whom she loves with a passion are in alberta canada studying (I am canadian) and I am not sure if they will see her again. I know that some day the same decision you had to make I will have to make but my prayer is that it is not soon. Again thank you for your words.

Lynda from FL

My daughter was working at the pound while studying to be a Veterinarian’s Assistant.
There was a little black and white puppy who had been passed over for a couple of weeks and was scheduled to be euthanized. One of my daughters duties was to prepare the animals for the procedure. It broke her heart to do it and when it came time to destroy the black and white pup she couldn’t do it. When she pulled him from his cage he buried his face in her smock, shaking and crying so mournfully her heart broke and she wept too.
He didn’t want to die. He was so smart, he had learned to understand what happened to the dogs and cats who were not adopted and he knew what was in store if he was taken into the back of the pound.
My daughter told her supervisor she could no longer help with euthanizing and took the dog to the front to adopt him. The folks at the pound were very upset with her and she was suspended for a week but she brought Ziggy home.
It’s no small task for a single girl to raise a puppy while working full time and going to school. We helped puppy sit and soon she had a beautiful, athletic adolescent dog.
Ziggy was the fastest and most athletic dog I had ever seen and I qualify that statement by the fact my father raised champion bird hunting dogs. Shorthair Pointers. Read the rest of this entry »

My family and I had to put our own dog, Dozer down on July 18th 2007. He was a dirty street dog we adopted through Kent Kennels in Calverton, Long Island. We had him for 14 years. Your book helped me through the grieving period. Real men do cry. We miss him!!!!

P.S. We recently adopted another dog from Save-a-Pet In Port Jefferson, Long Island. Her name is Shiloh and she was shot by her owner in Oklahoma and left to die. She was rescued and shipped to New York for adoption. We gave her a home for Christmas, and she is wonderful. No dog can replace Dozer, but Shiloh is definetly helping to fill the void. Thanks again for a great book,

Steve and family from NY