In 2006 my wife and I adopted from our local SPCA an English Setter which we named Kellen. Kellen was an absolute joy. He was full of energy and did a thing we called snarfing…when he would see you after we’d been gone for the day or when first meeting someone he would smile. His upper lip would catch and his teeth would show. In February 2010 on a walk my wife and I noticed he was walking strangely the next day he was much worse. We took him the Vet and found he had brain cancer. Kellen has been gone for two years now but not a day goes by I don’t think about him.

— Jon from Warrington, VA

My brother in law gave me a copy of Rescuing Sprite. I wasn’t able to read it until now. It’s been a month and a half since I had my companion, Bella put to sleep. She had cancer. I lost my husband of 45 years, three years ago. My son gave me his  German Shorthair hunting partner for a companion. She was the most loving dog I have ever owned. She would curl up next to me on the couch and she slept next to me on the bed at night. She loved for me to throw or hide her squeekie. She would always bring it right back to me. She went with me in the car and would either lay her head on my shoulder (from the back seat) or lay on the console between the seats. She loved to be covered up with a blanket when it was cold. She understood every word I said. There’s so much more to tell about her. I loved that dog more than I can express and she gave me so much love in return.  Great book, thank you for writing it.

— Diane from Alturas, CA

I had 4 loved cats-3 from the alley. We don’t have children. When I found Reagan who had been dumped in my alley-I’ll be honest. I didn’t want to own a dog. That seemed like a lot of work and an inconvenience.

She was dumped in my alley on a saturday later afternoon with another dog who barked constantly. Ten blocks north of Obummers house.  I kept driving by the house where her carrier was. Animal Control had picked up that white dog but Reagan kept eluding the animal control. I started feeding her cat food. She would not move from that back porch of the house where she was dumped. She was maybe waiting for someone to come and save her. Or the owner who did not appreciate her.

She was also shy or badly treated and kept hiding every time I’d pull up in my car and would cower when you would try to pet her. But she was not food aggressive.  I’d see her on that back porch..she was dark and that helped save her. I’d put out cat food because I feed this cat in back called Orange cat who is is HIV+. Finally after a busy week at work I got a break and it had just rained that morning. I said, Okay God, let me got see if this dog is out there. If she still is I will take her and help her find a home.

To make a long story short, she came with me happily after she came to trust me . Reagan is part pit and a terrier-a mix. 21 lbs of gentle joy. She has changed our lives for the better. She has given us so much job, laughter and has taught us so much about love. She is about 11 months now.

We were very depressed b/c we got stuck in a property in a neighborhood that used to be decent but went downhill quickly after Obama got into office. Reagan got both of us out of our funk. The daily walks, the travel in the car, the exercise and fresh air.

We trained her on Don Sullivan’s dog training,  and it’s helped her to be a calm, well mannered dog that people notice her manners and compliment us everywhere we take her.

Being a strict cat person, I never wanted a dog. As an interior designer I’ve seen so many poorly behaved dog where owners don’t take the time to raise them with manners. I can say that if you have the time for a dog-it is very rewarding-in a different way then with the cats. Training is key to full enjoyment of dogs and the key to having 4 cats and  dog is ZONES. Everything is calm and at peace here in our house. So I’m telling you it’s totally possible.

She also motivated us to get our butts going and to sell our condo and get aggressive with organizing our next home. Now we are moving away from Chicago to the suburbs and are shopping houses with a fence. I don’t want her in this violent neighborhood.

— Candice from Chicago IL

I am a huge fan of all animals, but dogs and cats are especially important to me. Almost all of my childhood memories include one of our dogs. My family has always had Golden Retrievers and I’ve loved every single one of them. However, when I was a young teenager a new breed of dog was introduced to me. Known as the “gentle giant” I met my very first Newfoundland dog. His name was Garth and he belonged to a gentleman I knew and I fell head over heels in love with the breed.

For years to follow I told my parents and everyone I knew that I would have a Newfoundland some day. Well here it is many years later, I’m 30 years old, and I have my first Newfoundland, who is now 11 months old and goes by the name Gus. I have my very own “gentle  giant”. Due to the size of these dogs, I realize that their life span is shorter than most dogs being that it is 8-10 years. I know what pain it is to lose a dog and I know he will  probably be one of my greatest loses due to the fact that he is officially the first dog that I have on my own. On the other hand, my life will be greater in these years to come because I have the pleasure of having him in my life. And like many of your friends told you when you were losing Sprite, I hope that I am giving Gus a great life. And for that reason, regardless the horrible pain we go through when we lose our furry family members, I will always have a dog in hopes that they have a good life because of me. It’s hopefully my way of giving back to the animals that have given me such joy. Dogs do so many great things for people and mostly its just by a simple wag of their tail or just by simply sitting beside you letting you know they are there with you no matter what. Not only that, but dogs bring people together.

— Lindsay from Huntingdon, PA

It was with heavy heart that we said goodbye to our beloved Alexander last week (he’s the big boxer in the photo, laying with his “little brother” and constant companion, Lincoln).  Xander was diagnosed with inoperable paranasal sinus cancer in November and given only three months to live; Xander, the ever stubborn one, went on to live six months instead.  When the time comes for me to face my own demise, I hope I can do it with even half the courage, dignity and humor (yes, if you knew Xander you would understand a dog can have a sense of humor) that he showed these last few months.  He leaves a huge hole in our family; I can honestly say that I’m a better person for having him in my life.  Mark, thank you for your books, your radio show and for this website where we pet lovers can share in our grief and memories of our lost friends.  It helps a very difficult time be just a little bit better.

— Michael from Huntsville, AL

Just wanted to let you know my wife and I just adopted an 8 year old female Shi Tzu named Lady.  Lady had been abandoned by her previous owner.  She was featured on May 7th by the local humane society spot on the noon news called Pet of the Day.  We were interested and officially adopted Lady the next day.  We were apprehensive about adopting an older dog but after a week with Lady we are convinced it was the best thing we ever did pet wise.  We are in our 60’s and she was just a perfect match.  We never really considered adopting an older dog but it turned our perfect.  We would likely not even thought about it but Mark’s example and his passion for adopting older dogs led us in that direction.  Lady has now accepted her new home and seems more comfortable with her humans each day.

— Ron from Mt. Sterling, KY