Hi Mr. Levin,
Just wanted to tell you I bought your book over the weekend and I loved it and also cried and shared your pain. I also adopted an older rescue dog(doberman) and I have also come across many medical problems. And about 2 years ago my boyfriend at the time moved in with a female boxer in heat we had a stray lab jump over our fence and of course got her pregnant. She had 10 puppies but unforunately only 5 lived and we also lost the mother because of complications of giving birth. We had to give the puppies to a rescue to be cared for because we could not. But the happy news is we got the one back that looked just like his mother. We love both our dogs very much. Jessie and Salem are for sure part of our family (our boys) So thank you so much for writng this book and sharing it with many dog lovers. I wish your family well.
Attached is a pic of when we first got Jessie(boxer-lab) and of course with his Uncle Salem(the doberman)

Tracy from PA

I look forward so much to reading your story about Sprite. I must admit though, I do not like to cry. I know that somewhere around page 150, I will be in tears. Yet, I am willing to undergo the torture in order to bond with you with Sprite. He must have been one heck of a dog@! I ordered my book and am awaiting it very anxiously!!!!!

Margo from OR

Although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to read your book, “Rescuing Sprite”, I do look foward to doing so. After listening to your show consistantly for about 4 months now I couldn’t help but be inspired by your compassion for dogs. I had always grown up with dogs but as I got older and got married we consistently had cats in our home. Cats are great because they are relatively low maintenance if they remain indoors.

Your stories of Sprite and Pepsi and how they are always by your side and they helped you through your tough medical issues, I remembered how upbeat and special the dogs I grew up with were to me and my family. I began to miss that outward expression of joy and love when you come into the house after being away. And you always get the same response whether you are gone for 5 hours or 5 minutes.

So just before Christmas 2007 while looking for fish tank stuff, I saw what I thought was the most beautiful dog. He was brought to the store by a local rescue group here. We named him Chase. He is an American Pit Bull Terrior and the most loving, well mannered, ball of energy I had ever seen. I had always heard horror stories about APBTs and how viscious they are, but this dog is not like the stories I have heard. We have had him for 6 weeks, he is beginning to trust that he is part of the pack. Read the rest of this entry »

Mark:
I had to put my Mac to sleep two weeks ago. He was a beautiful little Yorkie that I had for 12 years. When a dear friend of mine found out about my decision, he immediately went out and bought your book for me. I began by reading the jacket cover and began to cry so much I didn’t think I could pick your book up again to read it. But I did. It has probably been the best therapy for me to help with the grieving process. Mac had a rare lung disease. I did everything I could to try and save him. I had taken him to Virginia Tech Veterinary School, where a wonderful student, Will Mazure, worked with Mac. He was put in an oxygen tank, where he could only survive. Will didn’t think he would ever be able to live outside of the tank.

I went to see Mac on a Sunday. When he saw me, he began to shake, wag his tail and claw on the door. All I wanted to do was hold him in my arms one more time. After about 5 minutes I had to put him back in the tank. I made the decision to put him to sleep if he wasn’t better in two days. Low and behold, my prayers were answered. On Monday, Will called me and said that Mac had been able to stay out of the tank all day!! I picked him up on Tuesday and brought him home. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated drastically over the holdiays and I had to put him to sleep on 1-2-08. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I, like you, have had so many guilt feelings, but I know that he would never get better and I could not stand to see him suffer. I will always remember him as a little dog with a big heart. I had him cremated so that I could keep him with me always.

Thank you so much for writing this book. I don’t think I would have gotten through this without you. It is still very hard not seeing him. I reach for him in the night. Our other little Yorkie, Molly, just mopes around the house. She knows and I tried to talk to her, but she is still lonesome. She stays right at my feet.

God bless you Mark Levin. I wish there were more people out there like you.

Mary from Virginia

Currently we have four furry kids. Two are about 12 years old and the other two are about 10.

Our largest dog, 55 lbs. has developed back trouble and arthritis. He shouldn’t go up and down stairs, but that where his *home* is so up he goes every night, or when he’s stressed. He’s a lab-doby/cock-a-poo mix. Cute as the dickens, but has an attitude. Now we call him “old man.”

Our others are loved alot, too. The oldest, alpha-female and the one we have had the longest has seems to have Cushings disease.

If we have to put Butch down we’re going to be heart broken….don’t know how we’ll stand it. Same holds true for each of the others.

Lost our dog, Dusty, 12 years ago and we still mourn off and on. He’s become perfect in our memories LOL.

Will read the book someday…just not yet.

Pam from MI

WOW! What a book. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were writing our story. When our little Cocker Spaniel, Angel, was about 13, my wife decided that she needed a friend. Long story short, we too found the perfect friend at the DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue. Elvis, our 11 year old rescue, was an immediate family member. Your book is our story where only the names have been changed (right down to the child in college). I’m having some difficulty getting through the last couple of chapters. You see, we still have both of our babies, but I know that it won’t be long before we’ll be faced with the same trials that you’ve been going through. What a beautiful tribute to one of God’s blessings.

Mr. Levin, I have two words for you:
Thank You,

Tim from TX