Mr. Levin,

I recieved a copy of your book for christmas and I sat and read the entire thing, cover to cover, with a box of tissues in hand. I also had both of my dogs on either side of me, plus my mothers dog, and sisters dog! It was such a touching experience to read your book with 4 dogs laying all around me.

I grew up in Herndon/Reston and I have gone to JustPets for years, and even Reston Hospital a few times.

I have had to say goodbye 3 times in my short 25 years old. My two childhood dogs Cinder (Black German Shepherd mix) and Goldie (Golden Reteriver) and my Cat Sam (made it to 23 years old!). I felt evey emotion you had to wrestle with and cried my eyes out with you.

And like you, I have also found the stregnth to go on. Exactally a year ago I adopted a wonderful Catahoula Leopard Dog, Odette, from a kill shelter. She was an “unadoptable” dog. She was skinny, mangy, infested with worms and yeast infections in her ears and feet! Her poor boobies sagged like cow udders from nursing a recent litter of puppies. She was a wild dog until being captures by animal control in a barn, just trying to protect her 4 week old pups. No one wanted her. Read the rest of this entry »

I received the book for a Christmas gift and could not put it down until I finished the entire book. I cried most of the day. I lost my Siberian Husky (Stoli) to cancer and had to put her to sleep four years ago. It was the hardest decision I have ever made. I have gone over that decision in my mind constantly – whether I did the right thing. This book helped me so much. Thank you. Sprite was a beauty and you can see his spirit in his pictures. I now have a “pound puppy” that I am told is a Lab/Pit Bull mix. Alexis is my best friend. She is almost 5 years old and weighs 100 lbs. She is the smartest dog I have ever been around. She is so much fun and is a big baby.

A humane society is the best place to find the best animals. The people who work there are wonderful too.

Thank you for writing this book and sharing your angel with the world.

Susan from IL

I was given a copy of your book, Rescuing Sprite, for Christmas. We lost our dearly beloved Golden Retriever, Maggie (17), in October of this year. I couldn’t put your wonderful story down on Christmas Day. My family was given Maggie as a puppy when I was going through a divorce raising three little children. Maggie got us through many tough situations and seemed to hold the family together. She was a diamond in the rough, and we loved her immeasurably. I was remarried 13 years ago, and our merged family of five children simply adored her. Many nights my husband and I took turns sleeping downstairs with Maggie as she got older. One of my sons (23) and I had to put her down while my husband was away on business and it was extremely difficult for both of us. I wasn’t sure how he would handle this and I was worried. My husband wanted us to wait for him to return home, but Maggie was telling us it was too much for her to wait one more day. Now that time has passed, I know we did the right thing. Driving home from the vet’s, both of us crying in the car, my son said, “Mom, I just had to look at her big brown eyes so that both of us could see each other until the end. I wanted her to know I loved her.” Our love of Maggie was your story. Your Sprite filled my heart and touched my soul on Christmas Day, and I just wanted to thank you for writing it.

Sally from CT

I received your book for Christmas and finished it before going to bed that night. It is fantastic! I have two golden retrievers (my children in fur coats). Shelby is 10 and a princess. She welcomed Elliot (a pup) into our home 5 years ago. Elliot keeps Shelby young in spirit and Shelby has taught Elliot everything he needs to know. They are the best of friends—it is just amazing what Elliot has picked up from Shelby–the position they lay in when taking naps and other mannerisms. I can’t imagine life without these two dogs. As Shelby gets older, one thing I do know is that ‘Rescuing Sprite’ will always be close at hand.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Julie from IA

It is so very nice to know that there are so many people who love their family members who happen to be dogs, as much as we do. We have adopted many dogs, and through the years have grieved beyond belief when they have passed on to “dog heaven.” Barbie, our pit bull, haad been shot and stabbed and we adopted her from the local shelter when she was just 7 months old. She has turned out to be a wonderful friend plus is gentle and loving to everyone!

Patricia from CA

Dear Mark,

It’s 10:00pm Christmas Eve, I received your book Rescuing Sprite this morning as a gift from my father, I just finished it. First I want to give my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your family member Sprite. I say a family member because we dog lovers know it’s never just a pet, but a very special addition to the family.

About five years ago we lost my “sister” her name was Midnight we had her for 17 years ( and it still wasn’t long enough). She was brought into our home when I was three years old, I never knew life before her and that she is gone a part of me will never be the same. She was the sweetest, most affection dogs I’d had ever seen. When I was little, she was so calm she used to let me paint her nails, I always wanted a sister and since I didn’t have one, she was forced to walk around with bright red nails. She slept on the edge of my bed every night. The day she passed was very unusual for some reason my entire family was home, except my father who was working. We noticed Midnight was acting strange, so she called my father home and he scooped her up and ran her to the vet. By the time she was put on the table she was gone. We believe she waited to go until she could be with dad. When my father came home he was clearly upset, but I never saw him cry before. My mother was screaming in disbelief and my father was inconsolable. She was his best fiend. For 17 years he never needed an alarm clock, she woke him up every morning at 5:30am( even on the weekends too), they had breakfast together and then she would go back to sleep for th day until he returned. I never thought that losing her would hurt so much, but it’s undescribable.

We adopted her from a shelter and have since again adopted another dog, her name is Jessie and she fills our home with so much love and laughter. This morning she opened all her own gifts, ripping the paper off each one. It was so wonderful for our family to be together laughing with this wonderful addition to our family. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing g this loving, companionate book. Today you made me feel the presence of my dear “sister” Midnight. I miss her dearly, but know I know she has a friend Sprite up there to play with in doggy heaven.

April from NJ