Dear Mark,

I write this letter knowing that you and other readers will understand my pain from my recent loss.
Lucy or as the akc knows her “Taylor Lucille Lady of Deerfield” lost her battle with Lymphoma one week ago today.A local Vet came to our home and peacefully helped her to end her misery.Most of the family was there and we held her and kissed her. As usual she responded with kisses and tail wags as best she could in her weakened condition.

Lucy was a big yellow Lab 12and a half years old and my very best friend in the world.At the time Marks book came out I listened to callers thank him for putting their feelings into words,and there next to me in my truck was my girl Lucy always with me always faithful.

How do you describe a life that includes raising a family with kids dressing Lucy up for Halloween or her having her own stocking on the mantle at Christmas.Or my kids taking her duck hunting and watch her retrieve all the decoys because she thought she was helping.She worked with me every day of my life operating a crane even when she was weak I would lift her into the machine.On hot days she would scratch in the cool dirt for a place to lie down.What will I do now without her?I don’t know.I know there will never be another,no dog could ever chase away monsters from the deer camp deep in the woods like Lucy with her hair all up,just protecting us I guess.

I know all you readers understand and Mark especially, I don’t know when the pain will subside.I do know that she is in peace now and she didn’t deserve the pain of that illness.I will love you forever and always remember you.
Bless you Mark for allowing this space to share my Lucy with you and all your readers.
Thank You,

John D Parry

We were the 2 happy people
own by a yorkie named “Crickett” she was the most loving dog in the world. She was our world she traveled with us from the day we were priviledge to have her come into our lives.

A lady in ohio raised them and sold them she gave her to us..Crickett was was suppose to have a diet of rice/brocoli i and eggs. She refused to eat it. We were so concerned she would not eat. We happened to stop and gt some chicken nuggets and then she came alive..We fed her a chicken/leg or thigh every day of her 14 1/2 yrs. At the time of the
day it was for her to eat she would come and bark if my purse was on the floor she would go jump on it and tell me its time for her chicken..

Mark if only I could express to you how glad to know there is another human out there that knows the pain of letting your “baby” go just like you the night before that dreadful visit..I prayed for God to take her..She is in our back yard wrapped in her blankie.. have to tell you this we would sneak her in the motel room with her blankie over her and she would be still and in the room never make a peep. It was a game ..

So smart we live away from all our children & g’children and she just filled
up our days. I still miss her she has been gone 2 yrs.& 4mos..
This is to you”Crickett”
Where you are all without pain and running & jumpimg again…

Faye from OH

I”m not into rescuing; I’ve just always had dogs, mostly stock dog types. And most died of old age; every loss heart breaking. But when my 7 yr. old Moe died from lymphoma, now 5 years ago; I’m still “dealing” with that one.

After he was diagnosed, I had a month and a half to dwell on losing him. I was in a huge funk and could hardly function. My other two dogs wondered why we didn’t go very far on the 4-wheeler anymore.

What I miss most was Moe’s endearing habit of, whenever I would sit down on a step, rock, sometimes even the 4-wheeler, he had to come up to my left side, shove his head under my arm, and sit there with me with my arm around him—his idea.
I still have his sister; and I just wish she wanted me to put my arm around her.

Jeannie from WY

Hi Mark!

I sat and read Sprite today. I not only fell in love with your dogs but their family too! I consider you a good friend. I put off the reading of it because my dog wasn’t well and I didn’t want to open the flood gates. You are a wonderful writer…you kept my attention all the way through…and if I weren’t an animal lover when I picked up your book, I would have been when I finished. Thank you for a heart changing book and sharing your Sprite, Pepsi and heart. God bless you Mark Levin, your are one of my favorite people.

Did you know the crepe mytle is from Israel…and it is mentioned in the Scriptures in descriptions of the Holy Land and even heaven. Thought that might interest you. HE created animals and HE doesn’t throw them away…Sprite’s little soul is in heaven.

And I know you prayed for him to die in his sleep but I think what you described as his last day was loving and a heartfelt tenderfilled, albeit, heart wrenching glimpse into the sanctitiy of ALL life…four footed as well as two footed. You have shown millions how to do what they must someday do for their pets, you have shown them how to do it with dignity.
That is a godly and spiritual thing to do.

Bless you and your loved ones.

Psalm: 145:9
Provers:12:10 He loves you and I do too!

Ruth from NY

Just finished your book and here’s hoping that Griffen is leading a happy life. I had Goldie, a mixed breed for 18 years before she died. Didn’t want another dog. However, I have rescued Ridley, a greyhound and my husband and I are both very much in love with him. He was found living in the woods alone, in Arkansas with very little hair on him and hundreds of ticks.

Thankfully Greyhounds Unlimited in Tyler Texas rescued him and I was lucky enough to become his companion. I already dread the time he has to go. I’m so thankful to have read your book. I bought 2 and gave one to the lady who found Ridley and blessed me with him.

Gail from TX

In February of 2007 we had a fire in our house – actually in our son’s room – while everyone was sleeping. my son had attempted to light some incense in his room and when it didn’t work he threw away the long-necked lighter in the trash can in his room. about an hour later, our english mastiff, sydney, started whining and insisted that jesse let her sleep with him – her normal sleeping position is on the landing outside all the bedrooms on the 2nd floor of the house. he let her in and she kept knocking over the trashcan and he kept picking it up. finally he brought her into bed with him and made her leave the can alone. about three hours later there was a full fledged fire in the room – sydney physically pulled jesse out of the bed to wake him and saved his life.

As it turns out, the 100+ year-old house has such thick, tight-sealing doors that that smoke detectors in the landing and in the hallway didn’t get hit with smoke from his bedroom so they were useless. thanks to sydney all were safe, and able to get out of the house in time.

$80,000+ in damages and we lost our cat (smoke inhalation) but all are well. i believe sydney somehow KNEW that the lighter in the trashcan was a problem and she sought to protect the family, and especially jesse, from the danger.

We love her for who she is, but also for how much she loves us.

Heidianne from MO