Dear Mark,

Your tribute to Sprite is indeed heartwarming, and I can truly say that we are kindred spirits. Our canine experiences and reactions are quite parallel, and understand how you felt, when you began to write your inspirational canine tale.

Reading about Sprite, not only touched my heart, and brought tears to my eyes, but it reminded me how I felt when I lost my remarkable Boston Terrier, Boomerang. He was beautiful on the inside and out. We shared a very special bond, as you did with your beautiful Spaniel mix, Sprite.

Mark, back in 2002, I wrote a book about my beloved Boomerang, entitled “Boomerang-A Miracle Trilogy (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier”. Just like you, I was grief stricken, after losing Boomerang after just 23 short months. He changed my life, and inspired me with his loyal devotion, never ending courage, unconditional love, and ability to connect with people. What started as a therapeutic journal, to ease my pain, evolved into a 292 page trilogy about sharing my life and love with Boomerang.

I feel as if I know you, even though we have not yet met. I look forward to seeing you at the book signing on 11/10 at the Book Revue. We have endured and survived similar feelings of loss and pain, and we both turned to writing as a catharsis to share the story with others. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I’m a big fan.

Most sincerely,

Arlene from New York

Seems like yesterday, but I had to put my cat down of 13 years. Words can not explain the loss one feels when such a horrible decision has o be made so your pet can go peacefully. I am a home dialysis patient and dealing with that was much harder than my ongoing health issues. I felt (and still feel) isolated about the decision that was made. She(Ashley- aka smoochie) was always there for me. No one wants to talk about it and for know that is good. It still is something I get upset about fairly often. These animals give us a special love that is unbiased and without any strings attached.

Lawrence from Ohio

I wanted to tell you about my dog Niki. I found her at a gas station. Some not so good looking people were trying to sell her for who knows what reason. I stopped for just a sec to look at a pitiful looking puppy. She was filthy and shaking and looked like she hadn’t been fed in a few days. Although my instincts told me to walk away and avoid the scam, my heart went out to the pup. We bonded right away, and I couldn’t leave such a helpless animal in that condition. I cut a deal with her keepers and took her home. Niki and I became best friends right away. I am a truck driver, and she was a natural trucker. I took her everywhere with me. We spent nearly every moment with each other for over 3 years. She was my copilot, fishin buddy, friend when I had no other, and accepted member of my whole family. Last October I had an ATV accident. I destroyed my knee, and needed surgery. While I was getting cut up, I asked my parents to watch her for a day of so. While Niki was there, the wind blew open their back door. She went for a walk, and wandered into the road.
While I was recovering from surgery, the one person who would have been able to ease the pain and cheer me up, was only with me in my thoughts. I miss her dearly, and still can’t talk about her without shedding a tear.Among the hardest things that I have had to live through, burying her is second only to life without her.
Thanks, Mark, for this opportunity to tell my story. I’m a long time listener and I’m looking forward to reading your book.

Seth from Indiana

I lost my dog “jocko” about a month ago.It was one of the hardest moments of my life.I did my best to make it easy on her.I loved that dog as much as anything i ever had.In short sir,i feel your pain.Thanks for your story…Your friend,

Eric from California

Being raised on a farm in North Dakota, I grew up with all kinds of animals, and we always had a dog. My dad preferred a German Shepard. I preferred Black Labs when I grew up, and adopted a male lab puppy that was to be put down because he had been stepped on by a cow and had a broken back. He was timid, and of course in pain the day I took him home. I named him Jake at the request of my oldest son who was then 7 years old.

Jake recovered from his mishap with the cow, and became the most loving, hard working hunting dog any outdoorsman could ask for. At the sight of any of us, he would wag his tail so hard he would almost fall over.

Jake loved to hunt with me, both waterfowl and upland birds. He would work himself to exhaustion to find a bird that was down, but still be ready to hunt some more. He was more than a hunting dog, he was my hunting companion.
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This is our boy “George” we mostly call him “Gorgeous Georgeous”

We adopted him from a shelter here on Staten Island exactly one month after my other dog that we took in, Rover, had died.

I could not believe the anguish and absolute feeling of emptiness I felt after we lost Rover. It was a physical pain and heaviness on my heart. I felt guilty because I cried so hard and so often for him, unlike I had ever cried for some of the humans I have lost.

Getting Georgie has been such a blessing for us. At first we were hesitant to adopt an older dog, but I am so glad we did.

I related so much to Mark’s book, and I appreciate him opening up like this to share stories of his wonderful family, including his loyal pets.

Best Regards,
Kim from New York