The best Christmas present I received was from my 20 year old step son – your book. I kept putting off buying it for myself because I was supposed to be buying Christmas gifts.

My husband and I had two 9 year old Pomeranians, Bailey (an orange) and Dixie (black/white parti) and an 8 year old Bichon, Prissy. We had a happy little family including my elderly Mom & Dad who lived across the street with their 3 year old poodle, Pixie. In Sep 2007 Mom and Dad had to move to an retirement apartment. I agreed to take Pixie, so then I had 4 fur kids.

Daddy has Alzheimer’s and was having trouble adjusting to the new living arrangements. Three weeks later, Mom was starting to have health issues including a hospital stay. We all decided that it was time for them to go live with my sister in Minnesota since she doesn’t work outside the home and she has space for them up there. So within just a few days, Mom got out of the hospital and we packed them up to move.

The day they left for Minnesota, Daddy was having a bad day. We finally got him in the car and off they went. I was very upset because they’d always lived at most an hour away from me and I knew I would miss them terribly.

Sixteen hours after they left came the most devastating event of my 46 year old life. Read the rest of this entry »

My mother, father and I are only children. So you can tell right away my fanily has been small. Most of my life I’ve had a dog or dogs. They have been my brothers, sisters and of course my besr friends. Every time I’ve lost one it’s been a heartache. I’ve also lost a son when he was 30 yrs old. A true heartache. However without my family and friends it would have been unbareable. We all know God has His plan we don’t always know what it is but He did make sure I had my dogs! I don’t know if I can really tell you how but without them Im not sure I could have gotten through my sons loss with out them. the unconditional love my dogs gave to me helped so much. I really don’t have the words in my heart to properly describe my feelings. I don’t ever want to be without them.

Thank you for the book . You are able to say these word so much better than I can. Thank you for your show . I listen every chance I can. Which is just about every day. If only people had the insight that our dogs have what a wourld we would have. Hey maybe that is heaven. Thank you again.

Lottie from TX

I just wanted to say thank you as a daily listener and for your book . I have not seen my granddaughter for 3 yrs. until Christmas Eve when I learned at 7 yrs. of age she is determined to be an “animal cop”. I bought your book for her. God bless you, Mark

Kathy from IL

Dear Mark,

I received your book “Rescuing Sprite” as a Christmas present in hope that it would help me deal with my recent loss.

Blondie was my best friend. She was a beautiful 9 1/2 yr old Golden Retriever. I had to put her to sleep suddenly on December 4, 2007 when liver and spleen cancer was diagnosed.

She was a survivor in the past years. Blondie lost her buddies Max and Tommy. All Goldens, Max died 5 yrs ago and Tommy died of heart disease at age 5, three years ago. It was the same week my husband of 28 years left me for another woman.

Blondie and I were together through it all. She became the mayor of my neighborhood. Everybody loved her and she loved to be loved. Her legacy is that she helped me meet so many wonderful people because of her insistance of sitting on the side walk and making anyone going by pat her first. Then with tail wagging we could go on our way.

My house is empty for the first time in my life. I have a tremendous void especially walking through the door coming in from work.

I just received Blondie’s ashes before Christmas. Holding them is surreal in a beautiful cherry box.

I thank your for letting me just write this note.
It will take me a few weeks to read your book. I took one look at the cover and started to cry. I wanted however the opportunity to express my love for Blondie.

I love you Blondie. I want the world to know it. You were my very best friend. My Blondo girl, my beauty queen. Thank you for taking care of me. I love you with all my heart.

Kathleen from NJ

Dear Mark,

Super Book, my wife gave it to me for Christmas. We adopted two dogs Rita and Shadow previously from the Montgomery County Humane Society, and the Veterinarian who started Pooleville Vetrerinary Clinic Dr. Peter Eig, had treated and cared for Rita when we first got her home from the shelter, as she was suffering from separation anxiety for several months till she became convinced we were not abandoning her when we left for work and school every day.

Rita was a party animal and when we took her to the kennel for boarding, she’d steal every toy and blanket from the adjoining runs every night. She was a real sweatheart and everyone who ever met her said she was a cool dog. She was always waiting at the door for my oldest daughter when she came home from school. She learned the sound of the bus and heard it when it was still two – three blocks away.
When she was happy and excited, she run laps around the house inside – liek Pepsi , and I still wonder how dogs can make 90 degrees turns at full speed. Read the rest of this entry »

Hi,

I have been reading Resuing
Sprite while spending Christmas with brother and sister inlaw in Spain.
I have not been able to put it down
I have always had dogs and how much pleasure they bring to our lives.
Back in May I took in a terrier which was left behind when the owners went into care homes.
Bonnie has made such possitive difference to my life.
Every week I take her to visit her owner who lives in care home, Bonnie is about 14 years old but certainly doès not behave it.
There is a dog charity in the town where I live in England.
I have an interest in donating
a rescue dog to be trained
as hearing asistence for the deaf.
I hope you have had great
Christmas and New Year

Yours Sincerely,

Emma from the UK