Within the last year I have had to put to sleep 2 of my 4 labs due to cancer. The first female named Maggie was the sweetest most loyal loveable lab one could ask for. She was the leader of the pack but always wanted a humans love. She was especially clese to me because she was out first and I was the daily walker and feeder. For 11 1/2 years we had the joy of her company. She was unbelievably smart and learned in order to get a treat she would steal one of our shoes. In order to get it back we would give her a treat. All she wanted was our love. One day I noticed her tail was not going up properly. She was having trouble getting into our car to go for our long off leash walks. We took her to the vet who gave her rimadyl. After a week she was not getting better so we visited the vet again. They did xrays and didn’t find anything. Took her home and within a few days she couldn’t get up by herself. We would have to help her with a towel. She quickly went downhill to not being able to walk and control her bowls. We took to for an MRI and were told she had a tumor wrapped around her spine which was inoperable. We had to make the biggest decision we have ever had to make. The next day we drove to be with her one last time. I brought her dog bed, her drinking bowl and a cheeseburger. As I waited for them to bring her into the room I was crying the hardest I have ever cried hardly being able to take breaths. When she was brought into the room to see me she was so happy. I gave her many hugs and kisses and gave her the cheeseburger and water which she gobbled down. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do so far in my life. I miss her every day. The act of what I had to do to her kept going through my mind. Then 6 mos. later our 2nd oldest 10 year old lab couldn’t keep up with us our on daily walks. I just thought it was the fact that she was getting older. Finally when I knew something was definitely wrong I took her to the vet only to be told she was very very sick and we had to immediately go to the specialty vet. That night she had a complete blood transfusion to keep her alive. The next day we were told she had a tumor in her stomach which was taking all her red bloods cells. We had no choice but to bring her home and give her the best two days of her life. Then my husband took her to our vet because I couldn’t bare to go through that same procedure again. Now we still have 2 8 1/2 yr labs who are the children of our second lab. I miss my first two every day but give the two I have now more love than anyone could imagine. I dread what I am going to have to go through 2 more times. I only wish our dogs could stay with us longer. I am a huge animal lover and it rips my heart open when I hear of animal cruelty. All our dear animals want is to be loved and cared for. I truly believe that you can tell a human’ soul by the way they treat their animals. They have given so much love to our family.

Buffy from Texas

Daisy Doo is my 4 year old Brussels Griffon. She is a HUGE part of my life. She is my baby, my friend, and my dog. She was born in Georgia on March 9, 2003. I was not a dog person until Daisy came into my life when she was 2 months old. It was love at first sight. She is always there for me and has been there through some scary times in my life. Im 24 years old but last year I got sick and the doctors thought I had M S which it turns out I dont but I had to go home to my mom because for a week I couldnt even stand up. Daisy stayed with me and layed in my bed for a whole week not wanting to leave my side. I felt better knowing she was there and besides I cant sleep without Daisy in my bed. Coming home from work every night and seeing daisy peeking out the front window waiting for me and how excited she is to see me when I get home fills my heart with joy. Where ever I go she goes if she could go to work with me she would she is my little side-kick. I treat her and my other two brussels griffons Destiny and Treasure like my kids. I cook for them once a week as a treat, we celebrate their birthdays, christmas, halloween etc. They are very spoiled and have every toy and dog bed and accessories imaginable. But Daisy, I cant live without seeing that little face every day she has to live forever! People call me the crazy dog lady but thats okay because to me my dogs are my babies and it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks.
Daisy Doo is the best dog on this planet in my eyes and I will love her for the rest of my life!

Laura from Michigan

After reading your book I was able to reflect on the time I have spent with the dogs my family and extended family has been able to take care of. Four of these dogs come to mind when I an in a tough spot and need inspiration; these four dogs are Amber, Fiddle, Lily, and Jesse. Jesse was my aunts’ dog yet the other three were my families. When me and my brother were younger and we wanted to play outside my mother would always let Fiddle and Amber out with us. As I got older I asked why she lets the dogs out with us. It was not just to play with our companions but also to protect us. Amber actually would block my brother and I from the street she would not let us set a foot on the street until my mom came out of the door. I was too young to remember Amber well yet I thank God every day that my family had such a great dog. Fiddle was a playful Golden that would eat anything put in her face (Just like your Pepsi). She was one of the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever seen both of her parents were show dogs and she was as beautiful as them. One day she saw a dog outside and managed to get out the door. She ran across the street to meet her new friend but did not quite get there. An old Ford station wagon hit her. She let out a quick yelp and we thought she was dead yet she wasn’t. She suffered from a broken bone and that’s about it. Yet, the car on the other hand was damaged, and I mean a lot. The dog left a 6 inch indent in the car, guess all that eating paid off in fact the vet said it saved her life.
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Mark,

I listen to you every day and I really appreciate the last few days of compassion for our “kids”. We lost our beloved Husker a year ago in Sept very suddenly. We came home and found him “sleeping” in the living room. He was a red/white 100 lb Siberian. His beauty and joy are missed every day. We had him for 12 years. This last March we lost our 14 yr old white shepard Jazz. She was blind, deaf and in pain when I knew she had been to good of friend for to long to let her be miserable. I was with her as she took her last breath and I know she is not in pain anymore. My husband & I have 2 grown kids and 3 “girls” still at home. Lil is a black and white Siberian, Minnie Mutt is a mix we rescued after she was thown out of a car, and Mal, a 104 lb cancer surviving Malamute. All 3 are house horses and sleep with us, eat with us and provide us so much joy I feel my heart could burst! Mall is 4 now, but at a year and a half she had a lump grow on her side. We took her to the MO Vet university (many, many long trips) where they removed a 6 1/2 lb tumor that had grown into her rib cage. Those Drs. are an absolute blessing and the research they do is a miracle. We thought we would loose her, but after some chemo, today she is big, funny, happy and healthy. The family is smaller since we lost Jazz & Husker, but the girls keep us going and are always the best part of the day. Thank you for giving us the chance to share our losses and the loved ones still with us.

Lisa from Missouri

Mark. You have deeply touched me. Last July we lost our faithful Black Lab, Critter. He was such a dear friend and I still can’t speak of him without tears in my soul. Such a wonderful life and then, brain seizures. My god, how horrible and painful that was. He went blind and lost control of his legs. He couild not find his way. We tried every known possible way to help him. It didn’t work. I used to lay all night long with him in my arms and he would sigh and feel safe. It was the only time he seemed at peace. One day he ran into a fence he couldn’t see and couldn’t find a way out. He sat there and cried. He never complained. I knew then it was time. I called my good friend the vet and he came out immediately and I held him in my arms and told him I loved him and then he was gone. It was ripping my heart out. To this day, over a year later I am at such a loss without him. He made my life better. His presence is all ways with me. God love you Mark.

Jack from Florida

Mark, I just heard about your book and I will run out today and purchase this book for my wife and I. We are a professional couple that does not have any children, well human children anyway. We have been blessed with two wonderful dogs. A Golden Retriever named Chloe, and a rescue dog, Grace, that is a Golden and Brittney mix.
They are the best things in our life. Jobs, cities, homes, etc. all change but there is this constant in our lives, the dogs. They are always happy to see us, they always are willing to accompany us for a coffee, or lunch at their favorite restaurant (it is a French owned bistro that are liberal with the rules for having dogs on the outside balcony). They are always in for a good romp in the park and lets not forget the drive to the beach, their favorite place in the world. Chloe is a great surfer, with out a board. Grace, although she is a water dog by definition, is a terrible swimmer. Her desire to get the tennis ball however drives her into water over her head. It is the most hilarious thing you ever saw. Her thrashing the water into submission not realizing that she can float. LOL. When we are out there with the dogs, nothing else matters, not work, money, the weather, politics, absolutely nothing. Read the rest of this entry »