I’m only 14 years young, and I’ve only had one loss of a dog in my lifetime, but this story really got me. My dad got it for me for Christmas, and we went on a roadtrip after that- I read 100 pages there, 100 pages back. I smiled, cried, & laughed throughout this whole book, and the entire time I thought of my doggies. I have always loved dogs, but after reading this story, I really put a different point of view into the life of my dogs.

After the loss of my first golden retriever, Bandit, I was only 11 years old. Yes, I cried, and I was extremely sad, but I knew we needed another dog to lifen things up. We got a golden/sheperd mix named Sunny, and he was a handful I’m telling you. Bandit died in May of 2003, and we got Sunny some time later. Then, in November of 2003, my mom died. We went up to NY for her funeral (we were originally from there) and I stayed up a little bit longer then the rest of my family. I came home, and Sunny was gone. I asked my dad what happened, and he said we couldn’t handle him any more, so he gave them to a shelter (but I made sure the shelter didn’t kill the animals). I was crushed, especially because of my mom’s death.

In January, I wasn’t getting much better in the greiving process, and I knew we needed a new canine friend around the house. My dad was set on getting a golden, so I told him there were golden puppies at petsmart (even though i had no clue if they had them or not :]). We took off there, and he realized after we got there I was lying about the goldens. He wanted to leave, but I fell in love with a black lab/austrailian cattledog mix puppy. She had been thrown out of a car window when she was a pup, I thought that was horrible. I told my dad we had to have her, so he gave in, and eventually fell in love with her too. Her name is Sasha, shes 3, and shes still apart of our family.

About two years later, I was searching on the web for goldens, because I knew my dad was missing Bandit. I knew he deffinately didn’t want another dog, but I still wanted to look. I found golden retriever pups about a half hour away from where we lived, and I convined my dad to just go look (I have no idea how I did it, but I did). We got there, and my dad couldn’t leave without one. We weren’t sure how Sasha would act, so we told them we would take him home and see how things went. They went great, and now we have a 1 year old boy, named Kaiden. Sasha and Kaiden get along great, and Sprite and Pepsi greatly remined me of them.

Thanks for reading this, and have a happy new year! Give Pepsi and Griffen my love.

Kathleen from NC

I cut a tree in my yard and found a tiny birds nest that was carefully made with hair from Sassy.She was our last to pass away.We saved the nest to remind us that God never makes anything useless or throws anything away.We suffered a lot when Sassy left us, but not as much as she did. You never know when to let go, but I guess you always believe you could have done better. We miss her so much, but we have a perfectly preserved birds nest crafted from her so very soft and beautiful hair, it’s as though we’ve been sent another look. Words cannot express.

George from GA

Hi Mark,
Just wanted to tell you that I read your book, and it inspired me to go look at the local shelter… I saw the sweetest puppy and knew I couldn’t walk away and leave him there! I adopted “Brinkley” on December 17th, and I love this dog so much! He is such a good boy! Just wanted you to know that you were responsible for getting me down there at the right time to adopt this special dog!

Carrie from CA

P.S. if you talk to Rush, tell him I want to marry him!

Mark & Family,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story about Rescuing Sprite and Pepsi.
I finished reading your book late last night; my Dad sent me your book for my birthday.

I read the whole book in one night. I sobbed, smiled, and sobbed some more. Your book touches my heart, as I have been where you were with Sprite, with several of my dogs, and one cat. It is not easy having to make such a decision to end your best friend’s life. And why oh, why they just do not go on their own-just pass on to the rainbow bridge without us having to nudge them along is something I will have such a hard time with for the rest of my life! I am with you completely when you said in your book, “to end his life, and to know you-are ending his life, this day, this hour and here at this place”. It is the hardest emotional roller coaster to have to endure!!!!

I still have our Chloe’ Cat’s and our Gonzo Girl-dog’s ashes in cedar boxes on my desk her at our house. There is never a day that passes, I do not think of them. They are here with me in spirit. Along with my mother, too.
They are my Angels.

Thank you again, for sharing your story with me & the rest of the world! Read the rest of this entry »

What a terrible loss however what a beautiful time spent you had. I lost my best friend of 14 years in May my Abby she was a dalmatian and I greive and miss her everyday. I just finished your book and could not stop crying and still am. I could also write a book about my Abby she was very protective and never cared for other dogs she tolerated our tri collored collie Sid because he was here first he also passed at age 16 three years ago.

We introduced a bordie collie to her as a companion he lives outside but loves the corn stove in the basement on winter nights. Spike knew of her limits and did not press her he actually rescued her the winter prior to her death I had let her out to do her duty when I got home from work it was dark and she got turned around after two minutes with a flashlight I knew to call spike I called for Abby and spike went on a search and barked when he found her on the frozen pond that she never had went to before. I took my carhart jacket off and made a bed to drag her up to the house on she could not walk it was to far and to deep. She was fine once in the house but then did I realize she was totally blind now. Spike watched her always and he to this day looks for her. He snuck up in the house the other night from the basement to see if she was here and laid on the couch I found his hair there.

We never stop missing them and think of them daily I still at times think I hear Abby in the house and had to watch where I stepped where her dishes use to be for some time. I have her leash still by the door. She is in my heart forever and ever. I will have another dalmatian puppy a female if I can find one she will not be a replacement but a new best friend! God Bless you and your family and Abby and Sprite they play and run together in dog heaven Thank you God!

Brenda from MI

My husband and I are huge Rush Limbaugh fans as well as dog fans ( I have attached a picture of our hound). He gave me your book for Christmas….I thought I was over “the edge” with my dogs but now feel like I have met a kindred soul. My father was a veterinarian in the Air Force – head vet in South East Asia during the Vietnam war….coordinated all of the guard/scout dogs in the region and oversaw their nutrition……so I came by this naturally. Bless you for the book that you have written!

Vallie from Il