Mark, I just finsihed your book – and could barely read through the tears. You captured the love and commitment we hold for our dogs. “Dogs” just doesn’t seem to be the right word. These keepers of our souls. Looking into Sprites eyes – I know what you feel. And I too – will someday – go through your pain. I can only hope I am as strong as you and your family when that time comes. Thank you for sharing your incredibly sad and yet beautiful story.

Patti from NM

Hi Mark,

I just finished reading Rescuing Sprite, and can honestly say it touched me more than any other book I’ve ever read (and I’ve read many many dog books!). I cried more than I have since my beloved beagle Beamer died almost 5 years ago. However, your book also reassured and comforted me by conveying that there ARE other people in this world who feel such an emotionally deep bond with their dogs. I can COMPLETELY identify with your feelings towards Sprite. My mom told me as she was reading the book, “Amy, this is YOU,” referring to your attitude towards your dogs. I commend you for sharing your thoughts and feelings so openly, for perhaps making it “okay” for many more people to give their love whole-heartedly to their pets, and for possibly promoting extinction of the phrase “he/she was ‘just a dog.'” Thank you.

I would also like to share with you the story of my dog, Beamer. (I know this entry is becoming quite long, and I understand if it is too long for your website, but I DO hope that you get to at least read it.) I adopted Beamer from the animal shelter when she was a 7-week-old puppy (the runt of a litter of 11 beagle mix pups). When she was 9, she went through therapy dog training so that she could visit nursing homes and hospitals, and became a certified therapy dog. I also brought her to my school where I worked as a school psychologist, so she could work with children with learning and emotional issues. Children who were otherwise reluctant to read, eagerly and enthusiastically read to Beamer. Their confidence and attitude toward reading seemed to improve. She also joined two behaviorally-emotionally disabled students in their group sessions. Their faces lit up when they saw her, and when they walked her down the hallways they exuded pride and excitement. One boy who was initially uncommunicative and somber displayed compassion and love for Beamer (this was especially evident the day he folded her blanket for her so her head could rest on it comfortably). Read the rest of this entry »

I also have two dogs, one we rescued (we found her in the back woods shot and desheveled) and the other given to us by my friend. The one given to us is older, about nine and she looks like your Sprite and the other is a Husky and she did look like a coyote at that time. I know some day I’m going to have to say good-bye, How do you do it? Mr. Levin I have something I wrote about having two dogs, let me know if you’d want to see it. Thanks,

Barbara and Hubby from NJ

SAVING SPRITE, has really touched my heart. Having gone through much of the same, I cried and cried. I now have a beautiful red mixed dog, RED, he has been with me for 9 years having found him on a back road in CA. I lost my home there in a wild fire, then lost my husband shortly after. Red has been my life saver, he is now with me in KS. There is no better friend and love than a dog. Thank you for your beautiful book about Sprite and Pepsi. You have my deepest sympathy, GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Betty from KS

Dear Mark,

i just finished you book about sprite, I loved it. we just had to put my dog down about nine months ago. Her name was baily she was a beagle mix she was 13 years old . reading your book brought her back to life inside of me. when chris came to put sprite down I remembered that day when we put ours down ( I cried for abuot twenty minutes, shhhhh), it was heart wrenching to read about someone else losing their dog when the same happenned to me. Almost everything that sprite did baily such as the devil run, baily would run she would run up and down the halls and smash into walls. we would always joke that she would break a hip. Anyway I liked you book and I will always remember sprite.

thank you

Dylan from AZ
P.S. the picture is baily

Mark, what a wonderful book. I’ve had dogs with me all through my life from the collie on the farm to my beloved black labrador & rescue beagle now. My two are old gentlemen now – Ben (the lab) has lupus and Billy (the beagle) is being tested for Cushings disease. We have many ups and downs now but you know dogs only ever hurt you once and that’s when you lose them – what more wonderful love can you have than that.

I’ve been priviledged to share love several times and each time it was to be the last but deep in my heart I know I’ll always have a dog with me. Bless you and your family for the love, care and consideration you showed Sprite. May Pepsi and Griffen know that same love and consideration for a long time. I shed a lot of tears for you when I read the book Rescuing Sprite and some for the difficult decisions that may come my way this year.

Ethel from England