Mark,
My friend gave me a copy of your book for Christmas. I just finished it tonight. What a wonderful and heartfelt story.

I am so sorry for you and your family for your loss of your beloved Sprite. I too have a story about a wonderful dog, who touched my life in ways I can never truly explain. In December 1991 my mother and I found ourselves at a Petsmart store in Lewisville, Texas. I was 15 years old and we had gone to the store because the Lewisville Pound had scheduled an adoption day. My mom and I went to the store that day to adopt a little dog for my grandfather who was going to be visiting us for Christmas from Joplin, Missouri. So we went that day to the Petsmart….and that was a day that forever changed my life. For on that day, I met my dear friend Willie. He was a 5 year old Miniature Dachshund, brown with the cutest little smile and wagging tail you could ever see. So we adopted him and took him home with us. I was tasked to care for Willie in the weeks leading up to my grandpa coming. Willie and I spent every moment together for those two weeks. He slept in my bed with me…we went for walks…we bonded. So the time came and my grandpa came into town for Christmas. To my surprise, my mom had decided that if I wanted, I could keep Willie and we could get my grandpa another dog (which we did). So from December 1991 until July 2006 I had my beloved friend Willie the Weenie Dog. He went off to college with me. When I married, he came into my new home with me. He was the best dog in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

I finished reading Rescuing Sprite a week ago. It helped me to deal with the
grief I have been living with since December 18th.

“Dreamer’s” story is both bitter and sweet. I hope you do not mind it’s brief telling.
My sister mated her female Scottish Terrier and promised my son, then nine years
old, with the “pick of the litter” when they were to be born in January of 2001. Of the six puppies we picked out the “runt”. She was tinier than the others and mewed the loudest for food and attention. We waited earnestly for the moment we could take her home.
She became the third dog member of our household. Wilbur, the Cocker Spaniel,
looked at her with the “oh my gosh, what did they do” glare. Penny, a rescued Beagle/Shepherd mix, who was a sweet and mild dog, took to Dreamer right away.

Three weeks later tragedy struck. Dreamer stopped eating and struggled to even walk. She had seizures that made her legs on the same side go forward at the same time. Obviously, she would topple over. The first vet thought it was a
blockage in her intestines. The Ultrasound showed something even more dangerous.
She had a liver shunt. The main veins that connected to the liver were
unconnected and dumping her blood into the abdomen. Her liver was the size of a pea. We were devastated but, endured two operations that had our little puppy at
the veterinarian hospital for a longer period than she was in our home. On the second trip to surgery I held her in my arms and told her that I would rather
her die against my chest than in the arms of a stranger. Read the rest of this entry »

I lost two of my best friends in the last seven months Mother and daugher labs Their names were Angel and Daisy. I just purchased your book thinking it will help me go on I can only read a few pages at a time for it breaks my heart even more just because you are writing every thing I feel and most people dont understand. I miss my dogs terribly.

Daisy was only eight she had cancer in her leg we had her leg removed but within ayear the cancer got her her mom Angel was thirteen and she really went down hill after we lost Daisy. She had strokes and we put her down . It was six months apart that I lost two loves of my life.

Though I am lucky I have a husband that loves me and loved the dogs. I dont think he understands the heartache and just going on everyday without them I miss them terribly. I have two wonderful children and two grandchildren who mean everything to me . But so did my dogs. I do have Lily a two year lab who loves us and we love her but what a difference coming home missing a big part of the family.

Deborah from NY

Suzie is a 15 year old Bichon Frise who recently made her network television debut on ABC news’ “Nightline.” Suzie is adorable, bossy and completely lovable. I adopted Suzie when she was nine and she is God’s greatest gift. Suzie survived 2 cancers. She had hemangiosarcoma 4 years ago and is 1 year in remission from lymphoma. Her strength of spirit never let any of this get her down I tell her story and hope it will give others strength and hope. I treasure every moment I have with Suzie and that is all that matters
thank you for letting me tell my story

Suzanne from FL

Dear mark,
I just finished your book and cried thru the whole thing as I knew I would. I recently had to put my dog to sleep and felt as you did that maybe there was something else we could have done. She was 14 1/2 but in good health until we put her on meds for possible back problems. well the medication was ultimately what caused her to go into renal failure. only another true animal lover can understand the sorrow and pain as you have potrayed it. I am passing your book onto another dog lover friend of mine who has 3 dogs, one of which is getting on in years. I know that she will love your book as much as I did and also will shed many tears as she reads it. Thank you for sharing your your time with Sprite with us
P. Fox from NY

My Dear Mark,

Although I have tried over and over again to call into your program, I cannot seem to get through. That is such a disappointment since I would love to talk to you. So, I will write to you instead. My story is sad, but with a very happy ending.

Before I tell you my story…just a tidbit of info on me. I do love dogs…the wonder of the animal world, but, I also am a lover of cats. I provide for abused, abandoned and rescue kitties and I have fed a pack of 40 to 45 feral kitties and cats, every evening since mid-March, 2007 without missing a day. At first, they ran like the dickens, but now when they see me, I truly need to be careful walking, since they weave in and out around my ankles. I pet them, the ones that let me, and am truly glad that they have a warm meal before they find safe haven for the night. I have rescued many from the pack and have socialized them for adoption.

Here’s my story.

Two years ago, my two loving dogs, Scarlett and Maggie, were stolen. I had let them out to do their business, and in a blink, they were gone. My friends and I searched every facility from West Palm Beach to Miami on a daily basis only to come up with absolutely nothing. They were gone and I was heartbroken.

On one of the many occasions when we went to Broward County Animal Care to look for my babies, we happened upon a very handsome fellow, a Boxer mix, penned with two other dogs. He was standing along side the gate with his chest out and his head held high and would not let the other dogs come near the gate. I walked over to him and said hello. He was smelly and looked like he had been dealt a really bad hand. But, in my heart, I knew that we met for a reason. It wasn’t love at first sight because I was still grieving for Scarlett and Maggie. One week later he was in my home as if he had been there all along. He never leaves my side, tells me his story when I come home from work. Lets me know when he needs to go out and protects the house as no other dog has even done before. Such a great animal and is loving, happy, and very protective of his kitty mates and his Mommy (me). It truly was a magical moment when we met….so, I named him Majick. He brought love back into my heart again and I will always be grateful for his love and companionship. Read the rest of this entry »