Just finished your book and my husband is still apologizing (wrongly) for getting me the book for Christmas, as I have been crying for the last hour. It’s a wonderful, heartfelt book and a beautiful tribute to your beloved Sprite and also to Pepsi and your family.

You put into words how we feel about our rescue dog, Bear. We adopted him nearly 9 years ago, shortly after losing our 14 year old schnauzer. We had also lost my mother and my husband’s father in the months before. I searched Internet rescue sites and immediately fell in love with his sweet face. The adoption nearly fell through when they discovered at his final checkup that he had heartworms. I was already in love with that beautiful dog and pleaded with them to let us foster him during his treatment. Fortunately, they agreed and he has been ours ever since. We drove across two states to pick him up sight unseen. It didn’t matter because we were already in love.

I don’t know if it’s just my precious Bear (and your Sprite) or if it has something to do with being rescued, but Bear is the best dog anyone could ever hope to share a life with. He has enriched our lives so much that I can’t imagine life without him. Hence, my squalling and crying while reading your book. I will feel exactly as you have felt–and Bear is getting old. He came to us at a time when we were both feeling such loss and we have often commented that he rescued us instead of the other way around.

Thanks so much for the book and I wish you many more wonderful years with Pepsi and Griffen.

Anita from IL

Mark:
I finished reading your book today. It blew me away because i so, am a dog lover. As i read the last page and closed the book my dog was in my arms. I love my dog so much i would give up my life for his. I just want you to know that you, your book and especially Spritey have inspired me. When a human dies you get over it. When your dog dies the memories of you two together stick with you for eternity. I never compare human deaths to dog deaths but i know in my heart which one you grieve over more. Sprite even ispired my dog when i told him about Sprite. I love Sprite.

Hannah from NY

Mark,

I had a siamese kitten named Jacob. I lost him when he was less then a year old. He was sick from
day one because of bad breeding.We tried everything to save him but couldn’t.That as three years ago.I still haven’t gotten over it and for Christmas ,my husband got me another Siamese kitten. He also gave me your book in hopes that it would help me with my grieving and allow me to love another kitty. The new kitty named,Noah,hasn’t come home yet…we pick him up on Sunday.I just got finished reading about Sprite and I am glad to know someone else can understand what I went through. I think now I will be able to see Noah as his own self and not expect him to be Jacob.
I have a girlfriend that lost her dog of twelve years to cancer on Christmas Eve.I am going to write a paragraph dedicated to Jacob in that book and let her read it,then she can wite a little about Amy,her dog.I will keep it and offer it as comfort to anyone who shares our pain as a tribute to Sprite.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

Heidi from NJ

My husband got me this book for christmas. I sat down yesterday the 26th and for the first time ever read a book in one sitting. He listens to Hannity and heard it was an awesome book. He was right, of course I cried from about page 85 on. I used an entire box of tissues and cried so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. All the while my husband and daughter sat and played with there new xbox 360. I couldn’t believe that i couldn’t sleep after that. I couldn’t wait to write you an email.

This will probably sound crazy but I also sat down this morning at 5:30 am an emailed the Oprah Show about this book. I just wanted her to know about it if she didn’t already. We lost our mini choc poodle 3 years ago after spending thousands of dollars and thinking nothing of it, to find out what was wrong with her to no avail. We put her down 10 days before xmas and 4 days after i was on the phone with a breeder who had one female choc. poodle left. I drove down that day and picked her up. Mia is now three and in our mind a clone of our beloved cocoa. I will definetely consider rescuing after reading this book. Thank You-for my puffy eyes and all! Sincerely,

Sandra from PA

Dear Mark-

This year I asked my husband not to spend any money on me for Christmas presents- the family being together and our love is more than enough. Besides we have added expenses with two daughters in college. However, he never listens so on Christmas morning he presented a big box to me which I could not even guess what it might hold. Upon opening I found three books-the first one on top Rescuing Sprite. I was overjoyed, for I heard your interview with Sean Hannity while out running errands one day on the car radio. I yelled to my husband “how do you know about this book” he said he listens to you nights when driving home late from work and heard your passion about Sprite and knew he had to get the book for me. I started reading late Christmas night and just today got to pick it up again to finish-now that the holiday company is mostly gone. Of course, I had to put it down several times towards the end to catch my breath and stop the tears. I always wondered how some humans have this incredible love for animals that it hurts, while other civilized humans can abuse, even kill dogs that wander in their yards! I can only describe it as having holes in your heart that require the animals love to fill. When you first see or hear about the animal the hole starts forming and only gets bigger over time.

Our family has three dogs- a terrier mix, lab and two legged chihuahua and four cats that live on four acres. I feel we have been blessed -like you and your family and so many others with the best, biggest holes a heart can have. Mr. Levin your book will be a true gift to many. I have read many dog stories-but none could put the feelings into prose like yours. By the way, I have never felt compelled to write a letter or e-mail about an issue until I read your story. All the adjectives I can use have already been expressed. Keep sharing the gifts God has blessed you with. Let Pepsi, Sprite, Griffen and many more to come continue nourishing your being-it is what makes you one of the best humans on the Earth.

Geraldine from CA

Dear Mark,

I am an 83 year old grandmother. During my long life, I have owned many pets —
dogs, cats, a Shetland Pony. I have loved them dearly, cared for them and watched as they left me to live in heaven.

I have purchased 7 copies of your autographed “Rescuing Spriite” which I have given or will give to friends who have lost a pet. I wish I had a copy of your booik when I lost my first pet many years ago. All of my pets including my pony are buried in my garden — a large garden, one-half acre.

I listen to your show every night. Your words of comfort and encouragement keep me going. I know that God sent you to earth to minister to your fellowman and encourage them to fight on for what we think “Jesus would do.”

May God bless you with good health and grest happiness in 2008..

Your number One fan at WPTF – Raleigh.

Diamond Matthews

P. S. Currently, my pet is a thirteen year old Pursian/ ally cat, mix, color calico, named Sweetie Pie, that I rescued from the clutches of a laborador retriever. She is in good health, and I pray that she will live many more years.

Diamond from NC