HI MARK

THIS PIC IS MY 3 BABIES THEIR NAMES ARE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IS MATTIE, MISSY AND BUTTONS!! I JUST LOST MY MISSY GIRL RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING IT REALLY BROKE MY HEART AND I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!! SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND ONE NIGHT SHE STARTED HAVING A SEIZURE SHE HAD 3 IN 24 HOURS I TOOK HER TO THE VET AND WE DECIDED TO PUT HER TO SLEEP THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER DONE!! I DIDN’T WANT HER TO SUFFER ANYMORE BUT WHAT A HARD DECISION TO MAKE!! THE WORSE PART IS I KNOW I’VE GOT THIS TO GO THROUGH 2 MORE TIMES WITH MY OTHER BABIES!!

JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I ORDERED YOUR BOOK ABOUT SPRITE AND THAT I LOVE YOUR TALK RADIO SHOW I LISTEN EVERYDAY KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MY FRIEND!!
GOD BLESS YOU MARK!!

Helen from NC

Happy New Year, Mark! I just recently discovered your radio program and through listening became interested in your book, which my wife got me for Christmas.

Having grown up with dogs since I was old enough to carry our first Beagle puppy, I know first hand, as you do, the special place that our dogs occupy in our lives.

Your wonderful book was hard to read because it took me back to the days that I lost each of my childhood friends, members of my family. Although years have passed, the emotion in your book brought me to tears.

It was hard to read and to admit the reality of my current dog one day being taken from me. Her name is Catie, a Black and Tan Coonhound that my wife Sarah and I rescued a little over two years ago. She’s now almost 4 years old and is my first dog since leaving my parents’ home for college. Read the rest of this entry »

Four years ago my husband and I adopted Millie – a 9 year old Doberman from Doberman Rescue of Colorado where I have volunteered for the past 4 years. The second she walked through the door she knew she was home and of course totally took over! She had been tossed around quite a bit – her previous owner had died and the surviving spouse wanted to put her to sleep (after keeping her in the garage). Luckily a caring neighbor stepped in and took her to the rescue where she was adopted and brought back after a year because they were moving to Florida. After being in foster care for about 4 months we brought her home as a sister to our male Doberman and they really bonded and loved each other so much right from the beginning! Both of our babies have really been such an important part of our family and we have enjoyed their crazy ways so much!

Sadly, six months ago, Millie was diagnosed with lymphoma. We caught it so early that we were able to give her mild chemo treatments that didn’t alter her lifestyle at all. She had a wonderful six months after the treatment and then we had to say goodbye to her on December 1, 2007. We will forever be grateful for Millie and the joy that she brought to us during her wonderful lifetime.

Kris and Lee from CO

I had two dogs, Jessica and Jake, also nicknamed Sunny and Sparky. A counselor once told me at a very young age, you will never understand unconditional love in your life due to your past unless you get a pet/dog………..I thought about all the inconveniences of that but made the decision to get one any how. My first year with Jessica/Sunny was tough, we fought, argued and bickered continually at each other – she loved me no matter how hard I pushed her away. I then thought I will get her a friend to play with being I made a commitment and would never deviate from my word……….so along came Jake.

Being a single women with no children I made them my babies, after the smoke settled we had many years of good times and bad – mostly good but I was blessed with two “not so healthy” little dogs. They were medical nightmares year after year but we got through it.

I lost Jessica/Sunny 7 years ago and still feel the pain of missing her, we were born on the same day so we had a special connection.

My little guy Jake was 18 last November (07), we celebrated our 19th Christmas and New Years together until Jan 3rd “08” when I had to put him down. Read the rest of this entry »

Hello
I have enjoyed your show since 2002. You are a great American. Last March my daughter Caroline picked a Boston terrier Jack Russell mix dog for our family to rescue. Our old dog Molly had died at the age of 16 in 2006, and while we were still sad we wanted to help another dog. We named the new dog Lucy, and she soon became my best friend, following me everywhere and sleeping next to me at night. She was truly MY dog, although she loved the entire family and was the sweetest, gentlest dog I ever knew. I purchased a copy of Rescuing Sprite for my wife as a birthday gift. My wife and I have birthdays a day apart, hers is Dec. 15 mine is Dec. 16. On the night of Dec 17 my wife started to read the book. On the morning of Dec 18 Lucy was not acting right.

She was hiding in a corner of the room as if she did something bad. After my wife went to work she began to cough. She was not breathing well. I rushed her to the vet. Her lungs were filled with fluid and her heart appeared to be enlarged. Long story short, she had an undiagnosed heart ailment. She suffered a stroked that evening and we had to put her down. It broke my heart. Telling the kids was horrible. I am still not OK from it. Neither I or my wife can bear to read your book yet. It is like a person died. I will never forget how much that dog loved me for the true person that I am.

We have since rescued another dog we have named Riley. She is a lovely dog. One thing I have learned from all this is that if you decide to adopt a dog have it checked thoroughly by your own vet no matter what the adoption paperwork says. Lucy had a clean bill of health and was about 1 year old when we got her.
She had no symptoms of heart trouble. A simple xray might have prevented her untimely death.

Steve from NJ

I’ve had to part with a number of cherished pets over the years – the most recent in July of 2005, a Westie (Makenzie)I’d had for 13 years, raised from a litter of a previous female we also owned from birth to death.

While every pet with whom I’ve parted has come with great heartbreak, I have always taken solace from the attached “Dog’s Plea”

I hope this might reach Mark in some way.

A Dog’s Plea

Dear Master,

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for; thought I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside your seat.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old and no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Your friend and faithful companion for life.

Bill from NC