More than 2 years ago, my Grandmother Frannie passed away. She loved & supported her family for nearly 90 years, despite being widowed in her 40’s. Although Grandma is in heaven with Grampa, my 2 year old, Reagan still had difficulty under-standing. She wondered why she could no longer talk or see Grandma. She was still struggling with the concept of dying early this year, when the unwelcome time came for Dad and Reagan’s Buba, Blake to make the long, difficult trip to the Vet with April, our 8 year old chihuahua.

April was a calm and gentle dog. My experience as a boy with chihuahua’s had not been good, but the entire family grew to love little 3lbs. April. My wife, Annette, was first opposed to April, but they soon became the best of buddies. April followed her everywhere. Even our shelter dog, Buddy (a 1 year old Australian Shep., 35lbs.), deferred to April. She always ate before him and you would have thought April was 300lbs. the way she directed his movements.

Reagan, now 4, is an avid dancer and she loves her dance attire. We had to explain to her, when Blake and I returned from the Vet, that April was in Heaven now. Reagan inquired, “is she with Grandma Frannie now?” We all said “yes!” that is right, April and Grandma Frannie are both in Heaven now. Reagan seemed to accept this for the most part but she still wondered if Heaven was a place that Grandma and April would like. Reagan went to bed that night a bit perplexed, but she took April’s death much better than we expected.

The next morning, Reagan greeted me early. She excitedly exclaimed: “Dad, I understand everything now and it is ok” When I asked what she meant, Reagan said that she worried at first that April and Grandma Frannie would not be happy in heaven, but she knows better now. I asked her, how she knew this. She replied: “I went to sleep last night and I saw Grandma Frannie and April, in heaven and they were very happy!” I asked her how she knew they were so happy. “That is easy Dad, Grandma Frannie and April were both in heaven, dancing in tutus!”

I do not know if I attribute much significance to Dreams, but I believe this one.

Bill from Kansas

After 14 years of loving my 110-lb Rhodesian Ridgeback, Kenu, I was faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to put him down. I could not comprehend life without him, but I did not want him to suffer. I documented the logic of my emotional struggle in a poem. Several days later, he rebounded. A week later on November 6, 2006, my 42-year-old husband died suddenly from a heart attack. I am forever grateful that Kenu rallied to help me through the next few months, but in February I was faced with accepting that it was time for me to let him go. Below are three poems I wrote about Kenu crossing the “bridge.”
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I lost the lo ve of my life 2 years ago. Her name was czarina. I still tear up when I think of her. She was my hip & my heart. I was devastated when she passed away at the age of about 15. I could not mention her name for a long time or I would start to tear up and be unable to speak. My new all white Husky is called Sprite. I thought it was an original thought on my part. She is now 2. She has brought me back to life. I still miss Czarina. But I named my business after her.  This the first time I have ever responded to a talk show. Your politics do not interest me, but your humanity does.

Harry from Florida

As the husband of a Show Dog breeder (Shetland Sheepdogs) for over 50 years I have developed a deep love and have compassion for ALL animals, especially dogs.
We breed dogs infrequently just to improve the bred, and have breed over 75 AKC Champions. We have found there is no money in dogs, except what we have put into them!

We have several ‘house dogs’ that are extremely close and dear to the both of us. Truly, the most difficult time is when we are called upon infrequently to act for God and ‘put down’ a lifelong pal that has become a child of ours. The decision to ‘put down’ a pet is very difficult to make. We concluded long ago that we would only do it when and if the dog was not going to improve in health and was in pain, or had such a poor quality of life that they wanted to go to a more peaceful and pain free environment. I pulled our last 15 year old champion out of the Potomac River twice, before we had him ‘put down’ because of his brain tumor that caused more and more seizures. During the last month of his life he was kept alive and relatively pain free only because the dosages of Phenobarbital we administered that kept him drugged-out. It was almost a pleasure to feel him completely relax in the arms of death’s release from his earthly problems. We know that we will meet him again together with the many other dogs that we have breed and owned that have gone to “Rainbow Bridge.” That will be the subject of my next message.

George from Maryland

Little Max is actually our second rescue Scottish Terrier. This sweet little fellow cowered in sheer terror and ran for cover when we first saw him. He obviously had been abused by humnas in his former life. He and his two litter mates had been dumped on a rural farm with little chance of survival. In spite of Max’s introverted personality, Sheryl bonded with him instantly and so began the beginning of what has been the happiest two years of our lives. This gentle and sweet little fellow took a while to come out of his shell, but once he did, he proved himself smart as a whip and an absolute hoot to have around. He bonded with our other rescue malcolm and they are now inseperable best of friends. Our backyard has been squirrel free for quite some time and our hearts have been warmed as never before. Rescues truly are the best option when adopting a pet. Their capacity for love and companionship just seems so much greater than breeder or store bought pets. Thanks Mark for such a touching book and for telling a story that needed telling as only you could do it.

John and Sheryl from Texas

I am so touched with your story about Sprite. We dog lovers can only know of the loss one suffers when a pet dies. We have lost a few over a lot of years. They all died mostly of old age. We now have one left (a Bichon) who has diabetes, so we give him his insulin and watch what he eats. It is a real commitment. We do not go anywhere and leave him bording someplace. We stay home. Jake had cataract surgery last January as he was going blind. He now sees so well. What a blessing that they can do all of these things for dogs. But like Sprite, there are just some things that can’t be reversed. I am going to get your book at the library when it is there. I know I will cry when I read it. We are true conservatives also who do not lack compassion. Keep up the good work. Bless you and your family and your two dogs.

Anne from Virginia