Hi, just finished reading your book Rescuing Sprite. My mother in law bought this book for my husband and myself for a Christmas present. To be honest, it was the best present because we needed it to help cope with our losses.We are still grieving the loss of our 2 16 y/o poodles that we had to put down on Feb. 19th, 2007.

Tiffany our white minature poodle was suffering from a brain tumor, seizures and tainted dog food from China. Samantha our black silver toy poodle suffered and deteriorated quickly because of the tainted dog food from China. Amber our 15 year old apricot miniature poodle still is living but slowing down. After Tiffany and Samantha died almost 2 months later we brought home a toy white poodle named Izzy, who is now 8 months old. Amber and Izzy are learning to get along.

Thank you for articulating your life with the dogs and your feelings you shared., Only dog lovers/owners knows how hard it is to love and grieve the loss of your beloved pets. With much sympathy and understanding… may we all find solice, peace and comfort in our shared dog loving journeys.

Sue from IL

Would like Mark to see this pic.
Taken New Years eve of brother and sister.
They are only 5, but i have had them 5 years.
Your book has helped me to deal with the inevitable, something I think about often.
You look into their eyes and you see the definition of love.
They own ME !

Thank you,

Chris from GA

Mr. Levin – I read your book and cried the whole time. I have been a dog owner for 14 years and could connect with everything you said about we are the lucky ones to have known our pets. When my Chow Chow died a couple of years ago, someone sent me this poem about the Rainbow Bridge and I found comfort in it. I wanted to send it to you in the hopes that you would also find comfort. Have a Happy New Year and forge new memories with Griffin.

Emily from CO

Hi Mark:

I just lost my dog,Maggi,in July,much the same way as your Sprite. Maggi was 16 1/2 years old,a Shih Tzu,who I had raised from 6 weeks old.

I am still mourning my little girl,and she was such a joy to me.She finally succumbed to kidney disease,and some cancer.I also wondered if I was doing the right thing the day we had the vet put her to sleep,but I knew that she was suffering,although she never wimpered.You just know….

I took care of my mother for 4 years,and she was always afraid of dogs,but she grew to love Maggi.She would feed her with a fork,so she wouldn’t touch her mouth.

My husband gave me your book for Chanukah,and wrote inside ” in loving memory of Maggi”,and I bawled all over again.I read the book in one sitting,and bawled again.It is nice to know that I am not the only one to have such compassion for a pet.I am currently looking for another dog,and have thought about a rescue dog….

I also had Maggi cremated,and she currently sits right behind me in the dining room,with her picture in front of her little urn.

Thanks for sharing a very touching story with me.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Marion from OH

Mark,
It is New Year’s Eve 2007 and we in NH had yet another big snowstorm which inhibited most activity other than hanging around the house and of course constant shoveling. Over the last month I had purchased about a 1/2 dozen copies of your book, Rescuing Sprite, for loved ones who would really appreciate your story. One of the books I bought was autographed by you which I chose to give myself (from Santa). Today I decided to read it cover to cover, with a box of tissues nearby.

In my life I can’t remember reading a book cover to cover and enjoying any as much as this one. I felt as if you were sharing your story with me alone. I also felt like I knew Sprite and Pepsi and the rest of your family as part of my own.
I must confess that I was never a “dog person” growing up until I married my husband Sean. I guess you can say it was in the “marriage contract” to live with a dog for the rest of my adult life. It’s not that I didn’t like dogs. It was just that we never grew up with dogs. My (late) mom was fiercely frightened of dogs. She had had a horrific experience as a child having been chased by a stray dog in Manhattan where she grew up. So it was an unwritten rule never to have a dog. Then when my younger sister was literally born with a million allergies, including to dogs, this fate was sealed.

So when I met my husband, he did have a Black Lab named Mogul (a shelter dog that had been abused). Suffice to say, other than during the “honeymoon stage” of our dating, Mogul never liked me. He barked incessantly at me and chewed my shoes, socks, you name it. Read the rest of this entry »

Today we lost our beloved dog Chisum to cancer. The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. He was suffering and I wanted to be selfish and just hang on, but I knew it was wrong. So my husband and I drove to the vet dreading the moment. I held Chisum in my arms and he went to sleep. He was only 8. That’s not long enough. I’m heartbroken and I can’t stop seeing his beautiful face everywhere I look. I know he’s in a better place with no pain. I’ll miss him forever.

Nancy from CO