my dog sparky is a rescue dog.she is a long haired chihuahua/terrier cross and the most adorable thing you ever saw. my husband found this small creature wandering aimlessly on July 4,2000. she was terrified of everything and shaking like a leaf. she had mange and fleas and we would later find out that she suffers from seizures. my husband brought her in the house and she immediately ran to me and wouldnt go to any one else. we took her to the vet and began putting up “found dog” signs. we placed ads in the papers and waited. then we waited somemore and no one claimed her. after 2 months and untold vet bills, i informed my husband that sparky wasnt going any where no matter what. she had wormed her way into my heart completely and she is,i am happy to say, spoiled rotten. i swore i would never get another dog again, as just before sparky arrived, we lost our beloved Gizmo, our boston terrier. we had to have him put to sleep. this dog was born into my hands on my birthday 12 years prior. i know what you went through. but then came sparky, a mangy mutt who totally won my heart.

God bless Dogs, i know for sure all dog do go to heaven. even though the pain was excruciating, Sparky helped it ease. God Bless you Mark for writing your book about Sprite. I cherish it. Thank you from me and my Dogs Sparky, Mattie, and my Clydesdale mare Shannie

Terry from TX

Mark, for my 54th birthday, my Mother gave me a copy of Rescuing Sprite. In the card, she wrote, “You could have written this book with a few name changes”. She was right! She also wrote, “I know you don’t read much, but you’ll like this one!” She was right again. I picked the book up only twice… finished it the second time. I wanted to write and personally thank you, for sharing your love and compassion for dogs with me. I’ve often said that if we loved everyone like we do our dogs, the world would be a better place. But then, I always clarify that by saying if everyone loved us back like our dogs do, the world would be a much better place.

Mother said she wanted her contribution (proceeds from your book) to be in memory of Katherine Alexandria Trussell (KATE for short), the last of my ‘best friends’ who succumbed to bone cancer in ’04. Therefore, I felt compelled to tell you and other dog lovers the story of Kate. But, as I read your book, I thought of all 6 dogs that have been so special in my life. And I relived special moments from each of them. So, I decided to write a brief biography for each. It may be too long for you to read, as I’m sure you’re very busy. Probably too long for others to read as well, but that’s okay… just writing this helps my soul. Reading it is just optional. So here goes…

Sunny Boy was my first dog. He was a registered German Shepherd, brown with black saddle, given to me by my Uncle Joe when I was only 1 year old. Read the rest of this entry »

Mark,

I heard about your book (Sprite) on Rush’s show and I had to go to three book stores to find it, they were all sold out. Years ago, i would have thought you were nuts the way you carry on about your dogs. That was years ago, before we brought home our little Annie, a beautiful Dachshund. We are a family of five, three sons, and Annie is an integrated part of everything we do. She has brought more joy to my life than I could ever epress in words. I do understand how you feel and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

All the best to you and your family. I am about one half way through the book at the moment.

Jim from FL

Mark,

The upcoming anniversary of Sprite’s passing will be on many hearts, and we will remember you and yours in a special way on December 7. We are holding our beloved 10 year old Schnauzers just a bit closer these days. Some years ago, my husband who is a physician,decided the time was right to say goodbye to our beloved Schatzie, who had suffered a severe stroke. Your tender biography of Sprite has brought back many memories of our own love-filled years with Schatzie , and our other Schnauzers who were taken from us all too soon.

Thank you for the time to reminiss, and pray for all who believe in the miracles that surround us.

Rita from TX

To start with, this story is not about dogs, it is about parrots. I am trying to get help and awareness of serious issues with these beautiful and majestic “pets”. I have contacted the Humane Society and spoke with the rescue end of it and they gave me someone to talk to from Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Services. I found out that people can treat “parrots” any way they see fit as they are classified as “breed for labratory use” animals…

I am beside myself trying to get these birds out of this awful situation. Here it is….There is a greenhouse in Brainard Minnesota where two Blue and Gold Macaws, an Umbrella Cockatoo, two cockatiels and a female Eclectus parrot are kept. In the cold weather the only heat is from a heat lamp!!!!! This is northern Minnesota!! and these are “tropical birds”!! The cockatoo, which myslef along with the Brainard Bird Club raised the $400 to purchase the Cockatoo from him and I took it to an avian vet for disease testing and now he happlily resides in a happy foster home before finding the perfect home. Although these other birds are still there….The femaIe macaw has had her toes frozen off. We were going to try to “purchase” the female (as she is in the most need) from him to save her, and decided that paying this JERK $$ for the birds is not the answer.

I spoke with the man and he REFUSES to take any of my advice on proper housing or nutrition for these birds. He is “TOO Busy”!! The birds are fed a mixture of “ground corn and sunflower seeds!! This is like asking a baby to grow and flourish on saltine crackers and potato chips!! These birds do not have proper housing, food or care! When I was there, the water was so green with alge that I cant imagine anything drinkiing it. Both the water and food dishes are on the floor with feces allowed to fall into it. He says, what do they do in the wild>????

In the wild, parrots visit “clay licks” and consume the clay which acts like an antibotic. He obviously doenst know this, although he says he owned a pet store and knows how to care for his birds!!. I suggested a simple soloution of having water and food dishes mounted to the side of the cage, (which by the way is galvanized wire and the lead content of it is sure to make the birds sick or die in time). He refused to move the dishes. A friend offered to come in and take care of them, he refused. She even brought in hanging dishes and pelleted food and he refused to use them. How can it be that these helpless creatures have to endure such a life??? People get these birds and dont realize the responsiblity they have taken on. These birds live from 50 to 100 years!! They need the same type of physical, nutritional and emotional nuturing a toddler does!

How can I get the public to stop and think before they buy these birds, just cuz they match the furniture??? Better yet, how can I get these birds out of this mans hands when the laws basically allow anyone to “beat them with a club” as they wish, with no consequences as there are with dogs and cats?? I am grasping at any hope of help I can. I know your area is dogs, but I thought maybe you have some advice for me. Blessings to you and Thank You for your time!

Julie from MN

Dear Mark: I have just now finished your book, “Rescuing Sprite” and I just loved it. You are my kind of people. My husband and I have adopted three little cocker spaniels that were rescue dogs. First was Andy, who we had to put to sleep fifteen years ago and it broke our hearts. He was such a cute and sweet little guy, I still think of him. Next came another Andy who had wandered into our neighbors yard, they were calling him Andy and I knew it was an omen, we had to have him. He is still with us and is now almost 17 years old, we keep thinking he may be on his last leg, but then he surprises us and keeps right on going strong. We adopted Zeusie from a rescue in Maryland six years ago and he is so special in every way. He is my little “boyfriend” – always giving me kisses. I really like the fact that your family adopts dogs who need homes, we will always do this because so many doggies need a home and love, good vet care and good food. I’m passing your book to a dog loving friend of mine, she’ll love it. Thanks for writing it, I understand completely your sorrow at losing Sprite, but as a dog rescuer once told me, the best way to honor your deceased pet is to bring another needy dog into your home and love it.

Teresa from DE