DeaR Mark, greeting from Southern Utah. I really enjoy your program and listen every day. Keep up the good work.
I have been moved by your telling about your precious dogs. I have not yet purchased your book yet, but plan to so. I have a neat little Shitz Shue that my son gave to me 3 years ago and what a pleasure and companion he is to me. My wife of 44 years passed away some years ago and my Rusty has really helped to fill a terrible void in my life. My religion teaches me that I lived before I came into mortality and I will live again when I leave mortality, So having said that, I have to believe that there is a doggy heaven as well . I know that I will see my beloved wife again at that time. I have to believe that your Sprite is surly in doggy heaven as well. much love to you and your Family.

Reed from Utah

The two brothers, Manny and Will. Manny was an Italian Greyhound and Will was an Abyssinian. Both very different personality wise Thy overcame alot together. They both led happy lives. They had more love in their lives than some people ever receive. One afternoon when Manny was out on a walk a reckless teenager was going 60 mph in the neighborhood. He hit our dear dog killing him instantly. The news was heartwrenching and even more devasting when the driver did not even consider stopping. My entire family, especially my Grandpa, were heartbroken. We could not imagine how each day was going to go by without our dear friend. Will his brother seemed confused and appeared to be looking for him in the house. It was hard to tell what was going through his mind. But Manny’s passing inspired us to save another soul my cocker spaniel, Roscoe. We adopted him from the pound. Three years went by and a frightening change in Will’s health was becoming apparent. Because of his breed his chance of dying of kidney disease was more possible than compared to other cats. Will went from being a happy cat laying by the window bathing to losing five pounds in the course of four days. He dwindled down to three pounds. He could not walk he pulled himself into a corner. He could not even enjoy his most treasured activity, eating. An infection in his mouth had developed. We were forced to have to put Will to sleep. My mom pleaded to Will to just rest his eyes and let go. He would not. It was one of the most painful experience in the world. We had these animals for thirteen years. And to wake up and know they were not there was devastating. The love a dog and a cat offer is more pure and sincere than from some people. I can ever imagine going through life without the love of a dog and a cat. They are wonderful and great companions.

Courteney from Texas

Rick & Jennifer from Colorado

My wife stopped by Salt Lake County Animal Services and adopted a little Poodle/terrior mix as a companion for our little Maltese who lost her best friend a few weeks earlier. The Maltese was pining away, refusing to eat or drink and we were afraid she would be the next in our family to leave us.

We named the new dog “Corky”. We should have named her “Dinky Dau” ’cause she was nuts.

When the wife and I were gone, she would run through the house uprooting flowers and chewing on my wifes record album collection. It took a couple of years for her to lose that “wild” behavior, but she had grown into our hearts and we loved her regardless of her flaws. She was my “laser” kid. She would chase the laser from wall to wall and try to dig it up from the bottom of the water bowl.

She would sit and watch our every movement as if she were studying for an exam.

We had her for 13 wonderfull years. February 2007 she took a turn for the worse and my wife and I knew her end was close. If was February 13th and we could no longer stand to see her suffer on our behalf and decided that we would have her euthanized the following day.

As many times as we had done this in the past, It broke our hearts nonetheless, and we noticed that the decisions were getting much harder as we got older. These were our kids who we raised and cared for and who gave us so much in return.

February 14th, Valentines Day, 8 years to the day I lost my own mom, and we were trying to prepare ourselves to send our beautiful little girl home.

My wife was reluctantly getting ready for work as our litle girl laid on the bed with labored breathing. I left the room for a second and when I came in the room, my little girl was as relaxed as I have ever seen her.

My wife continued getting ready for work and I reached over to stroke my little girls head and immediately realized that she was no longer there, but was now running through open fields, free of any pain or suffering. Me and my wife cried like little kids… I scooped “Corky” up into my arms and held her and whispered how much she meant to us and how much we loved her. And then I took her outside and placed her next to our little Maltese “Scooter” who had left us a few years earlier at the age of 11 and who no longer pined.

Thank you Mark for allowing us space to pay tribute to the kids in our lives.

Guy from Utah

Hi Mark, yesterday was the first time I heard your words about Sprite. I cried the whole time I listened as you told of the emotion of losing someonw who loves you unconitionally. I am 50 years old and most of my life have owned dogs. In July,2006 I had to put my Chewy to sleep. He had a bad athritic condition, according to his vet, the worst condition he ever saw when he opened the leg up to “repair it”. I used to wish if it got real bad he would go on his own and I never ever would have to be the one to make that decision.
The day I had the vet come and do it, I was told to hold him and tell him I loved him and could not. All I could do was hold him and cry for what I was about to lose. I read a sympathy card about a losing a pet in a store a short time ago and the few short words said it all..nobody will ever look at you with that look of unconditional love as your pet does. How true is that…take care Mark and no along the rest of your journey without Sprite he is still in your heart.

Debbie from Illinois

Mark,

I would like to share the story of my buddy Gunner. He is a Yellow Lab and a wonderful friend. In 2004 and 2005 I was serving in Iraq with the US Army. As you can imagine it was not the easiest thing to do. After I returned home my wife got me Gunner as a gift for our Anniversery. This dog saved my sanity if not my life. In short I was having nightmares and was struggling emotionally with some of the things I witnessed there. One night we decided to leave him out of his cage and have him sleep on a mat in the bedroom. That night I began to have another nightmare and to make a long story short I woke up with his head on my chest as if he was trying to comfort me. My wife woke up as usual and we both started to cry. I honestly think he saved my sanity. Now every once and a while will have a nightmare but they are not as intense and he is there. You are right they have unconditional Love for you and want very little in return. I thank God he brought him into my life.

Van from Virginia