November 28th, 1991-January 11th, 2008

Samson was born in Mountain City, TN on November 28, 1991 to a “Finnish Spitz” mom (subsequently believed to have been a Finnish Lapphund) and a mystery dad (conjectured to have been a Border Collie). Samson joined the Pace family on January 11, 1992, when he was discovered chewing on his brother’s ear in the back of a pick-up truck in the parking lot of Roses Discount Department Store in Boone, NC. Samson received his primary education under the tutelage of Laddie, the Pace family’s collie, and graduated cum gratia from the Watauga County Humane Society Dog Obedience Class in June, 1992.

Samson was a faithful companion and veteran traveler, who had his first successful hotel stay at the age of six months. He loved his leash and loved “going too,” whether for a drive across town or accompanying his people wherever their work responsibilities carried them. Samson made numerous cross-country drives with Dad Blake and Mom Lynn and enjoyed putting his paws in such varied bodies of water as the Yellowstone River, the Mississippi River, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

A highly intelligent and clever dog, Samson was a capable communicator, well able to express himself in prose bark and doggerel verse. Several of his songs became requested hits at the Flaming Pit Restaurant in Gaithersburg, MD, where he customarily greeted friends and fans during his after-show walks. Read the rest of this entry »

My husband purchased Rescuing Sprite for me as an early Christmas gift as I love dogs immensely. Thanks for the book. We need more like it.

I recently became aware of a situation at a local animal hospital that deeply disturbs me. Every time I entered this facility there was a dog in a little red wagon, lying there covered with a blanket.. People would pass by and pet him, but he never got up. On a recent visit, I asked what his story was. Over a year ago this dog was shot by a farmer that paralyzed his hind legs. His owner had carelessly let her pack of dogs run loose and kill livestock. Thus the farmer acted. This poor dog was brought in to the hospital by his owner and she refused to put him to sleep. She was going to get a makeshift wheelchair made for him so he could continue his life. She has never returned, but refuses to let the facility put him down. The facility continues to care for him with no financial assistance from the owner. He does not act much like a dog. He trembles, he rarely sniffs at things. He does take treats and is very friendly. The facility has contacted law enforcement and was told they cannot do anything because the dog has an owner and since she refuses to sign consent they cannot put him down. They kept him in their kennel area, but he went through a deep depression. They brought him out in the wagon during the day and his depression subsided. Some bring in treats and left overs for him, while others come in to pray for him. Since I have learned about Manny, a day does not go by that I don’t worry about him.

Debbie from TX

I bought your book, the autographed version.. however, I have not read it yet.. might be another one to read.. have an 8 year old Doberman Pincher.. great dog.. has a heart condition.. my wife took him to a specialist in Texas 400 miles from where we live just to give him a chance to live.. cost almost $4000 thank God we could afford it.

After major hear surgery, the Vet gave him one week to six months to live. It has now been six months and he is still alive and kicking… however he is truly at the end of his life span… it is hard. He still looks good.. and soon, I know the time will come when we will have to take the same decision that you had to take…

I love your show and when I am at work, in Africa, I try to catch you on streaming Audio… We worship the same God.. however I take a longer view through a Jewish Rabbi… GOD Bless you Mr. Mark Levin.. you and your family.. I wish you the best.. and I really do own an autographed copy of your book.

Joe from TX

Hi Mark,

My husband and I both exchanged your book this Christmas. One, we then gave to a dear friend who has two elderly gentlemen in his life now living well on Nantucket Island (both rescues). I needed great courage to pick your book up and start to read it because I knew what was ahead of me having experienced it myself several times in recent years.

We lost our little rescue Holly to cancer in Oct, 2006. Originally, I had rescued her from the Port Washington Shelter ( a wonderful organization filled with many loving and caring people including many volunteers), in 1995 for my elderly parents. We were blessed to have had a wonderful companion for 11 years, when my parents passed in 1999 she joined our canine crew and we spent many happy days with her. She, like Sprite gave all the love she could and just wanted to be a part of our family. She was our third rescue experience and I couldn’t have been more pleased with our pound dog companions. Each and every one was a joy to be around and a pleasure I wouldn’t have missed for the world. One often wonders how these wonderful dogs end up in shelters but they do.

I’m very active with donating to rescues and shelters and since my husband and I have no children a large portion of our estate will go to these organizations to continue to improve and keep up the good work, we’re even talked of setting up a fund to pay the vet bills for people who very often don’t have the financial means to pay for the necessary care for their pets and fellow family members.

I can only read a little of your book at a time. It brings home much of what we went through with our pets. I thank you for your courage to put your experience down on paper. I know not being alone in sadness doesn’t really help to ease the pain but knowing that so many of these companions are so loved so late in their lives gives me great consolation. Somehow I’ve always felt that these special animals know they’ve been given a second chance. My question to you is with all the exposure of your book did it ever perhaps bring Spite’s original family forward?

Thank you again for sharing your story,
Wendy from NY

Max the mutt (german shepherd mix) has died. He came to us about 10 years ago. The lady at the shelter said that she found him tied to the door one morning. She had named him Texas because he looked like a lonesome cowboy. And lonesome he was but, with a heart filled with love. He never changed, shy and loving toward people.

We picked him up one day in mid-September and brought him home. He was nervous and let us know with seemingly endless gas. I said to my son “Thank God it isn’t winter or we wouldn’t have survived the trip”. He was soon to meet our other dog Magnum, the rough and ready wimp of the house, or as Mag probably would have said “all creatures great and small, oh God I’m afraid of them all”.

After introducing the dogs on the road and taking a short walk, we returned and started down the driveway toward the lake. It was then that we noticed something strange. Max would not walk on the grass. I guess being a city dog he was more at home on streets and sidewalks. I’m sure he wondered what this green stuff was.

Well after a few battles Max got used to what was to become his lifelong buddy Magnum as well as the green stuff. He became the canine master of all of the property and any part of the lake he could get to. Mr. Bunny found out as did Mr. Muskrat and a few geese. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear mark, I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite and it is a wonderful book. 3 years ago i had to have my 14 month old jack russell put down when someome poisoned him with antifreeze, he was like my child, it almost killed me, then a few months later we had to put down our 11 year old australian shepard due to old age, we were all devastated.

Two years ago i was given a chance at another jack russell that is almost identicial to my patch that i lost, her name is zoe, and she is my love and i feel that God sent her to me to fill that void. currently, we have 3 jack russells, 1 poodle, 5 blueticks, and 1 german shep. mix and i love them all dearly. i can’t imagine my life without any of them. thank you for sharing your story with us, i cried but i also smiled.

My heart goes out to you and yours as i have been where you were and as 2 of our dogs are over 10 i know that we will have to face that day again all to soon. good luck and much love to you and yours,

Sincerely,

Kelly from TN