I can’t say enough about Sundance (Mama’s Boy). He was with me for nearly 18 years and 100 years wouldn’t be enough. Losing him broke my heart in a way that it will never be the same. I miss him every single day and always will. I was touched by Mr. Levin’s interview on TV and wanted to share my love for my boy in a forum that was respectful and understanding. Thank you.

Cari from Ohio

I am a police officer and have a partner, the other day i had to take a dog to the family doctor, while I was there I ask the clerk when a pet passes away do they pull the file and marked it deceased, and she stated they did, but everything was on the computer if I needed any dates or other info on a deceased pet or a living pet, a day later I had to take a second dog to the family doctor, and the clerk said I pulled your info on the computer and she said to date we have or have had a total of 52 pets, all these pets had all been resecued, three came from Hurranine Katerina, two cats and a horse, we lost one of the cats a year later, she was old and crippled and we knew no one would ever adopt her, and we have had a dog and other cats find us, I now have 7 dogs, 11 cats 13 horses, some cows, goats, chickens and ducks. I just lost a goat I had for a very short time, a year and a half, i found her deceased in her stall on Oct. 29, this loss hurt so very bad as she like all the other animals in my life was a family member. i had to put four horses down, one was 33, one was 34, one was 18 and one 15. Three of these guys told me some how that it was time for me to let them go and cross the rainbow bridge. Each loss whether dog, cat, horse, goat or cow even chicken is tragic. I know the pain it and it never gets any easier, but I think when one passes, they leave a mark on your heart to pour out that love to another dog or cat. My roommate told me that the day that I pass, that I was surley going to be trampled by all the pass loves of my life when I cross the rainbow bridge myself. I too can’t imagine anyone ever losing a child, it has to be unbearable, God put me to my knees when I lost my goat (Rose) the other day, and a great dane that I have is getting a little slower so I know her time is near, and she is 12, so god blessed me with her for more years than the average age of 7. I could just go on and on, and knowing that I wil see my kids again one day keeps me going. The family dorctor came to my house to put down a shephard in my living room, and he even cried with us, my bedroom is full of urns, where I had a couple of my cats, my shephard and 2 of my goats cremated. Even had a horse cremated. Buried 4 horses and I now cremate because the Raleigh area is growing so fast that the farm I live on one be developed, and i can’t bear the thought of having to leave them some day due to development. Some of us live and work just to enjoy the pleasure these guys give us. Sorry I bounced around from subject to subject, I am at work and a supervisor, but I can’t keep myself together enough to think straight after listing to you the last two nights. I just wish everyone could hear you story, so when I call out at work due to a death or injury the upper management wouldn’t thinnk I was nuts. Again god Bless you.

Vickie from North Carolina

We adopted two huskies and have six cats that live on our porch in a “cathouse” that I made. In our 33 years of marriage the joy of our lives have been the adopted cats and dogs we have bought into our house. We had Sadie Dog for 16 years and Sassie Cat for 19 years. Their pictures embellish our walls alongside our other family photos.
A close friend is the “ultimate” dog rescue r. We met Joy when we went searching for a flute teacher for our daughter. Joy works at SMU as and Admin Assistant and is home for seven dogs and several cats. One evening when taking my daughter to Joy’s house for flute lessons I was introduced to Buddy “the new dog”! Joy was driving home and the car in front of her struck a dog and didn’t stop. Joy stopped, gathered up the dog and took it to the vet. The dog’s left rear leg had to be amputated and a cast was needed to support a fractured pelvis. The vet’s cost was over 0 but heck, Joy couldn’t leave that dog in the street. Buddy healed and on my visits I would bring dog biscuits to treat her “herd!” Buddy gets around quite well on three legs and he’s a sucker for ear tickles!

Lou from Texas

We lost our dog last September. It was the worst experience! We had him for almost 14 years! He gave more to us than most people do! We feel that we were blessed to have a pet that represented GOD’s perspective of how we should live and be treated. Dogs show unconditional love and are so very welcoming no matter what mood you are in. I have heard that the word Dog is God written backwards! not to sound spiritual, but when you think about it, it just may be how God sees and loves us and expects us to treat all we encounter with the dame attitude and not to judge so quickly. love your show!

Patty from Virginia

Mark,
Sorry about the loss of your friend Sprite. I know how tough it can be to loose a beloved friend. Growing up always having a dog in the house I have felt your sadness many times and know that it can cause a pain only understood by those who have felt the same. Below is a story of one of my dogs. It is a bit long and I left out a lot so that you could hopefully read it with the busy schedule I’m sure you have. I too could write a book on his life and our love for him.
January 13th 2007. It brings a pain almost unbearable when I think back to that day. It’s the day I lost the best friend I ever had.
August 2000, my wife six months pregnant with our first son and I take a ride to West Orange New Jersey. There was a posting in the news paper for boxer puppies. We had purchased a boxer puppy a year before and after having her for only a month she passed. After that heart break I swore that I would never have another dog because I didn’t want to feel that way again. I grew up always having a dog in the house and once my wife became pregnant it made me think back to all the great dogs I grew up with and decided we needed to have a dog for our family. We arrived at the home where the puppies were to find out of six pups there were three left. Three boys running around the back yard playing. Two were quite nippy but there was one, twice the size of the others, that wanted nothing but to lick your face off. The owner called him Fat Bastard (Austin Powers reference). He was the one. We named him Boo Boo. In our eyes he was the most perfect animal god ever placed on this earth.
Skip ahead three months later and my first born son Liam Patrick came into the world. I read up on bringing a baby home to a house with a dog and the things that could happen if the dog became jealous. All of the fears I could ever have were abolished within seconds of entering the house. Boo Boo and Liam were inseparable. Where ever Liam went, Boo Boo was there. I think the first thing Liam bit with his first tooth was Boo Boo’s ear, he yelped jumped up and went right back for more. They were both perfect and we had the perfect family.
Three years later and three years of unimaginable joy my second son Riley Quinn was born. Boo Boo was excited beyond belief. He had one more family member to love, play with and protect. Three more wonderful years.
January 13th 2007. The family took a trip to see my grandfather in Wilmington Delaware, one that we had taken many times before. We talked played with the children and dogs it was a usual day with Grandpa. While sitting down at the kitchen table for lunch Boo Boo fell while standing under the table and struggled to stand up. A few seconds later I realized that he didn’t just fall he collapsed. In my arms he looked into my eyes begging me to help him. On the way to the veterinarian ER just a few minutes up the road, my cousin driving at speeds that could have got him arrested, I performed CPR on my beloved friend. They took him in the back and were unable to save him.
My best friend passed that day of massive heart failure at a young six and a half years old and there was nothing I could do to save him. I would have given up my life, everything I own and even my soul to save him and I know he would have given the same for me without a second thought. He was the most beautiful, loving and faithful friend I will ever have and his memory will live with me till my grave. I will love him with all my heart for all eternity.
May 17th this year we adopted a wonderful boxer puppy named Bosco from Camden County Animal shelter and he has been a great dog. He has many of the same traits that come with the boxer breed, the pride, strength, energy and love for the family. He will never replace Boo Boo but we love him like a son. Every day he helps to make the giant hole in my heart a little smaller. The only regret I have is that eventually we will have to suffer the inevitable heart break once again.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for all that you do to help make this country a better place. In the words of Sean Hannity “your are a great American”. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for all you do,

Rick from New Jersey

Mark yesterday you shared a story that put this 6’1″ Brinks Tech into tears that it seemed never stopped. You told the story of the Police Officer and his wife who could not have children of their own and that they had their own little bundle of canine joy. That struck a deep chord with me because my wife Lisa and I have tried to have children for 8 years and we have a little Lhasa Apso named Holly. She is our little girl. She has been there with a joyful, playful smile on days such as Mother’s/Father’s Day when all we could do was cry. I bought her as a puppy to help fill that void in our hearts for the child we couldn’t have. I know the pain that I will one day feel but you PERFECTLY captured my heart and the hearts of so many others that relate with you thru this.
Thank you Mark, you are truly a Great American!!

Scott from New Jersey