Dear Readers,
I have just finished reading Rescuing Sprite. This book touched me in ways I was surprised about. Like Mark, I had to put my male boxer, Max, down in April of 2006. Max was sick for a long time with cancer. He started with a tumor on his right hind leg when he was about 5 and a half. We had just brought home another boxer puppy we named Penny. From the first day he adored her and soon she became “his puppy.” They were inseperable. They slept together in a cooning position every night in “their House.” We refinished our house shortly after Penny came home and under the back stairs we made a “den” which they LOVED! It has a big huge soft bed and they would frequently go in and snuggle together keeping each other warm and company.

After Max was diagnosed with cancer we began the long process of removing the tumors and watching him recover, only to discover another tumor a few months later. But each surgery allowed him to keep going and be with us. He was NEVER unpleasant-always amazing after surgery! What an attitude and I know it had to be uncomfortable. He also suffered with arthritis when he was about 7 and couldn’t sit down in a normal sitting position like most dogs. It never stopped him-whenever he heard the basketball bouncing it was as if the “puppy fairy” threw puppy dust on him and he ran around ignoring the pain chasing the ball.

Finally, when he was almost nine, he became sick to his stomach alot and had many episodes of unstoppable diiarreaha. We would take him to Oradell Animal Hospital and they would give him pills that would stop him for a week or so but as soon as the medicine would run out he would start again. Finally, I knew it was just time. I took him and Penny to our vet after giving him his favorite breakfast, cinnamon toast. We all went in together and they were very kind. As Penny and I sat with Max on the floor I felt panicked and tremendously sad. I realized for the first time I think how final death is. His head was in my lap and Penny, seemed to know-amazingly-and stopped being hyper-my dogs both LOVED the vet’s office-and laid down next to us. It was one of the worst and best things I ever did. Worst because it hurt SOOOOO much and still does! Best because it was probably the kindest thing I could do for him. He would have suffered tremendously. He was almost 9 when he died-not long enough for the kind old guy with the big brown eyes. We still miss him. In fact Penny’s favorite spot in our backyard is right where we buried his ashes. I appreciate Mark’s book, it made me feel better about what I did and leaves me with great memories in my heart of my dog, Max. Thanks for letting me share too.

Jennifer from NJ

Mr. Levin –
Thank you so much for sharing your story. This touched my heart strings and helped me grieve over the loss of my Shih Tzu, Cody. He had an enlarged heart for many years and it came down to congestive heart failure. He wasn’t moving much and breathing so hard at the end. He wagged his tail the day I decided this was the end of the trail. It was the most difficult decision I’ve made. Thank you again for helping me, with Cody’s passing.

Vicki from TX

I enjoyed reading your book even though a lot of the time I was trying to read while crying, wiping my eyes and nose and wiping tears off the pages of the book. I also liked reading about Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and how they supported you. That just reinforced what I already thought about them both. I had a black lab mix for over 14 years and he got to where he had to be carried out to go to the bathroom. One day I finally decided this was no way for man nor dog to live. I took him to the vet and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I know how you felt that day. My wife and I didn’t want to go through that again and we didn’t have a dog until one day in 2002 I rescued “Belew” from the pound and we have enjoyed her being a part of our family ever since. She is the most loving, sweetest dog I have ever seen. Mark, Sprite was lucky you found her and gave her the love and care that she needed. Now I also know what kind of human being you are, a Good Man with a Good Heart! Take Care and thanks for sharing Sprite with all of us who love animals. I also ordered a signed copy of your book for my brother for Christmas. I’ll be listening to you on the radio. Merry Christmas!!

R.C. from NC

In 1986 our 14 year-old mixed lab dog was sitting next to me on the floor about midnight, he got up to walk into my 4-year old son’s room as he always slept next to my son’s bed. He couldn’t get up, his back legs were paralyzed. We suspected the worse and my wife took him to the vet (I couldn’t) the next day—the situation was permanent and he was put down. We adopted two mixed yellow lab pups a week later. They got away from our yard three years later and didn’t make it back. We were devastated for months and months. We advertised immediately with large paid ads in the Bismarck Tribune (ND). We parked my pickup truck with a large banneron each side (TWO YELLOW LABS MISSING–REWARD) at a busy intersection every day for weeks and weeks. The worst time of my life. We couldn’t sleep, if we heard any noise outside in the middle of the night, I’d get up and pray it was our dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

Hi Mark, I love your show! I just ordered 2 autographed copies of your book. I can not wait to read it.
I am a long-time dog lover and rescuer. I am the founder of Grace for life animal sanctuary and train people to ride and rehab problem horses to support our rescues. The reason, I mention this, is that when you are a rescuer, you experience many deaths. It really does not get easier. You do learn over time that helping them pass over is our duty as their caretakers and they need us to be ready. They say animals come into our lives for a reason and leave us, when their job is done. I really do believe that I will see them all again. I have to believe that. They each have a piece of my heart and animals are truly our teachers. I am just so excited that the word is finally spreading, about how special these wonderful creatures are. There are no words to express the loss of a pet. My life is surrounded by animals and this is my passion. I have many beautiful memories of lovely senior animals that have spent their last days with me. I do know that I will see them again and that they surround and guide my life. I am grateful to those people, like yourself that are expressing their true love for their pets.

Currently, my heartbreak story is one of a young pekingnese that Read the rest of this entry »

Hi Mark- Your book has brought so many people together, and has removed the feeling of isolation from many.

Thank you.

Here is our story:
I decided I wanted a pet. Growing up my family had always adopted from shelters and we had never been disappointed. I drove to the local Humane Society. I did not have any type of dog in mind. I knew when I saw the right one, I would know it.
Once there, I decided I would wait a week and then return with my roommate.
I began to walk to my car when I spotted him coming from the back of the building. He was a mess and he came right up to me. I went and got an attendant, “Is he for adoption?” I asked curiously.
“Yes”, she replied, “but are you serious? I mean look at him, he is in pretty rough shape. He has been here so long we don’t even cage him anymore. The staff has kind of adopted him.”
“What’s his story?” I asked.
“He was hit by a car last year and we were called out to get him and put him down. He was in bad shape, broken ribs, snapped tail, crushed nose, he must have been a stray before that because he was pretty skinny too. So we loaded him onto the van and as we are driving back he starts to look at us and rubbing against us and we all sensed it. He was telling us he wanted to live. Back at the kennel, the vet saw it too. He said he would give him 24 hours, if he improved good, if not he would put him out of his misery. The little guy was so happy to be around people he got better quickly. And so, here he is, not much to look at but what a loyal friend he is. His vocal chords don’t work and we don’t know why.” Read the rest of this entry »