Mark,
I want to thank you for your appearance on Hannity & Colmes last night. I lost my beloved Emmit on December 6, 2006, about 12 hours before you lost Sprite. Emmit’s death was totally unexpected and shocking. I had taken him to the vet at 6:00 p.m. to check a lump that I had found deep under his throat. It was probably a thyroid tumor, and they asperated some fluid from it to send to the lab for testing. He was fine and we went back hom; however, shortly after I got him home, his breathing became extremely labored and by the time I rushed him back to the vet, it was too late, He was still alive, but it appeared that the tumor had most likely ruptured and he was bleeding into his chest cavity. There was nothing they could do and I finally decided to have him put to sleep about 9:00 p.m. Until I heard your story last night, I thought I had gone off the deep end and was close to crazy because I then experienced the same profound sadness, shock and depression that you described and mine also lasted for weeks and months. My brain was telling me I was being completely irrational, but my heart was simply broken and sad beyond belief and it was very difficult for me to try to make sense out of it. I soon came to realize, though, much in the same way that you did, just how deeply I was affected by my dog’s love, friendship and total devotion and that it was something I had never experienced before and something I should not try to discount. I soon realized that all my emotions and feelings were not only real but valid and I allowed myself to grieve as long as it took and refused to “try to put it behind me” as everyone around me was hoping and praying I would. It changed my life and I still grieve today, including right now as I type these words. I take time every day to think about the short time I had with Emmit. He too was a shelter rescue dog and I only had him for four years, but I know he will be with me always. In the days after his death I made as many notes as I could about all the memories that were flooding my mind and I am going to write his story in a journal for myself. You were so lucky to have such understanding friends and colleagues to support you. I wasn’t so lucky since my husband thought it was best that he tell my children, family and friends not to “talk about the dog” in the hopes that I would get over it. That left me thinking no one cared about how painful my loss had been. My children had never seen me in such a state and I couldn’t understand why they seemed to be making every effort to ignore what had happened. By the time I realized my husband had orchestrated a moratorium on anyone speaking to me about the dog, it was well past the time when anyone could offer anything to help. So I never got to talk about the good times or the funny stories or what other people felt about his life or his death and that’s something I can’t ever get back. A couple of friends did get to me with a note or a card and the only person who truly helped me through it all was my wonderful next door neighbor who just kept coming over and visiting with me and reminiscing, and I will be grateful to her forever for being so kind and understanding. She was as much a part of my dog’s life as I was because he also adored her and her two boys. I met those neighbors one month after I adopted Emmit and the first thing they asked me was if they could take him on a picnic. He went and they became fast friends from that first meeting and when he died, my neighbor grieved just as much as I did because it was like we shared him. When she finally learned what had happened, she called me late one night because she was crying and couldn’t sleep. She came right over and when I saw her, after we hugged and cried for a long time, she said “he was my kids’ dog.” And he really was. It was amazing to me how much closer they were to my dog than my own family members were. But I will always have all those wonderful memories of sharing my special Emmit with them. I’m really doing much better now, although I know the one-year anniversary is looming. I adopted another shelter dog last February and he is a wonderful little friend to me now. I learned so much from losing my very special Emmit, and I am now a volunteer with a wonderful local shelter and I have lots of new dog people in my life. It is so rewarding for me to help throw-away dogs find new homes. So I am doing just what you asked of people last night on Hannity. I’m helping pets find new homes and working hard to spread the word about breeders. I can’t wait to buy your book and I just wanted to thank you again and tell you that now I feel normal and justified in my grief. I hope that some day I will be near one of your book signings because having you sign my book would mean so much to me. Best of luck with the sale of the book and thank you so much for your contributions to all the shelters you will help. All animal shelters need help and always will, but the best thing animals in shelters have going for them is that they are being cared for by people who love them all. All the best!

Eileen from New York\

Mark, Here’s a system I’ve been using for the past 9 years. It’s a system that you or any dog owner can and SHOULD use. I own two amazing chocolate Labs. Coco and Henry. Every day when I wake up and see them I remind myself of how lucky I am to have them. Throughout the day, if they do something to make me smile or laugh I again remind myself how lucky I am. I also remind myself that they will not be there forever. There will be a day that I won’t be able to give thanks for having them. I remind myself that they are being LENT to me by a higher power who wants to make my life on earth easier and more enjoyable. One day they will be gone. I just want to be sure that I acknowledge and remind myself how much better MY life has been because they are here. Not forever, I know, but for NOW!

Fred from Nevada

Hello Mark. To be honest with you, I had never listened to your show until last night. I got into my car and had it on talk radio and heard you talking about Sprite. I cried like a baby the entire commute home simply because I also have a story about a wonderful little guy named “Shadow”. My husband and I were blessed with Shadow in July of 1992 while living in England. Shadow was a black Scottish Terrier who was a loving, stubborn, fiesty Scot and we loved every ounce of him. Shadow was diagnosed with diabetes in 2001 and went blind shortly after his diagnosis. Our vet told us that he would most likely not live another year simply because maintaining the insulin shots is a challenge with a pet. We made a promise to give Shadow the best care for the remainder of time we were given with him. We rescued another Scottie, Huckleberry, to be Shadow’s “seeing eye dog” and it worked. Shadow NEVER accepted other dogs prior to Huck and he took Huck in as if he knew that he was there to take care of him. To make a long story short, Shadow lived another FIVE years with diabetes(two shots of insulin each day) and blindness and during those five years, he was full of life and vigor. He began to decline during the last six months of his life and we had to make the worst decision for us but the best decision for Shadow on October 23, 2005. I have never in my life experienced the pain and heartache that I experienced that day and every day since his death. I often sit with his first toy “Mr. Mouse” and the clipping that we took of his silver beard before we let him go and I cry just as if it were that day in October 2005. Shadow taught me patience and unconditional love and I am most thankful to have had him in my life. Huckleberry is still with us and he has allowed us many happy moments which reminds us of Shadow.

Becky from Texas

Mark – this is Mark. I have been unable to call you and share about my Coffee. She was almost identical in color and size to your Spite. I had no idea until I saw the web picture. I sat there with tears running down my face like the night I lost my special friend to a hit and run driver. I blamed myself for taking my eye off of here for just a second. I also looked at my friend and apologized for letting her down. For not protecting her when she needed it most. It was horrible. I am so sorry for your loss. Yet, after a time I rescued Ginger, a frail Irish Setter. She had no idea how to eat, how to behave and was afraid of everything. That was 36 months ago. She is now healthy and well, and the delight of my life. I have several kids who never contact me because they are too busy – but Ginger simply goes ga-ga when I come home. She has saved me 1000 times. I will always remember my Coffee – she helped me through a terrible divorce and my honorable retirement from the Navy.
I defined myself by being a father, a husband, and career sailor. When these were all gone – I drifted alone and depressed, then I got Coffee. She was there all the time for my moods and my tears.
After her loss – I knew what I had to do…but I hated the thought of “replacing her”. Ginger has picked up where my wonderful saving Coffee left off. Thank You Sir, I listen every day, sorry I could not make it through a phone call…it’s tough.
God Bless you and your family Mark,
Sincerely,
Mark from Florida

Dear Mark,
I don’t often get to listen to your show when it’s on but I was ecstatic today to find that I could get a podcast of it. I guess I’m pretty far behind the curve! But I did “happen to” be listening two weeks ago when you talked about your new book. I am so glad I was listening then because the poignancy of your words and voice about touched me greatly, and I am very sorry for the loss of your loved one, Sprite.

I lost my wonderful cat Taylor on Sept. 11th and was simply devastated. Taylor was about 14 years old and I had him for about 11 years after “adopting” him from a very good friend and her family. Taylor was all black except for a little white spot on his chest. There are many “Taylor stories” which are now among my most treasured memories. He didn’t meow very much, except for when he wanted to be fed, which was often. I never saw him run either except when he was running into the kitchen! He was a great lap cat and after sleeping on my lap for a while he would either lay down next to me with his head resting on my thigh, or sometimes lay his head on my feet. A loving companion always. Taylor developed feline diabetes and I never thought I could do this, but I gave him an insulin shot twice a day for a few years. He’s had a wonderful vet throughout, and we changed his diet and his diabetic condition went away. He was always a champ taking his shots or his medicine without a bit of trouble. More recently he had developed what seemed to be a chronic sinus infection. But we later found out these problems were being caused by a tumor in his head, and that he was showing signs of kidney failure as well. I would have Taylor for only about five more weeks after that, every day being filled with many tears at the prospect of losing him soon. I had to have Taylor put down on Sept. 11th and I still miss him so much. But I am so very thankful that I had him every day that I did. I have another cat named Zachary that I adopted from the Humane Society about 8 years ago and we both have really missed Taylor.

As a post script to my little story, I definitely wasn’t planning to find another cat anytime soon. But one found me. I got a call from my vet about ten days or so after Taylor passed away that someone had brought in to her a cat that had been abandoned in the neighborhood. My vet said that she and everyone in the office thought he was a really special cat. They were treating him before having to take him to the shelter but they liked him so much that they hated to just take him there. Anyway …. I went over to meet him and he won me over right away. He’s very friendly (and a little quirky) and has a great personality. He likes to sleep on my lap too like Taylor did. No one can take Taylor’s place but I am so thankful now to have my new little family member. I named him “Tony” after Tony Dungy, one of my favorite people in the world.

Mark, thank you so much for writing this book and telling your story. I have ordered it and am so looking forward to reading it. God bless you and your family, including your furry family members as well.

Susan from Florida

mark,just wanted to share with you that for a long time my wife and i decided not to get a dog because of us being so busy,however about two weekes ago we took in a dog that was our daycare providers knowing that the kids would love her so we took jenny into our home and at the same time there was a stray kitten that kept coming to our porch,my wife told God that if it kept coming that she would care for it so we cleaned up its eyes (that were all matted) and took it to the vet getting its shots and now mater (the kittens name because of the movie cars and the closeness to our last name) is now living with us and he and jenny get along great,they sleep and eat together and have a great time.also wanted to share that my best friend is a mail carrier and brings home stays all the time.I know they have lost many of thier dogs and i know its hard on them but he will continue to bring them home out of love. thanks Mark.

Ken from Kansas