I have a doggie wheel chair to donate for anyone who needs it.

I would like to thank you Mark for this. I have often wanted a vehicle to express my grief over the loss of my best friend. It has been since November 2nd. 2002 since I lost him. As I sit here organizing our memories, I hope for some closure. I know I will never go a day without something reminding me of him. However, I would like to be able to get past the chin shake.
I would not do his life justice without starting from the beginning and giving you some back ground. I never had my “own” pet. Sure I had family pets that I shared with my older brother and my wonderful (single Mom) mother. But I was now in college and on my own. I always loved animals and especially dogs. I had a childhood friend who had a boxer and I always thought they were the “coolest” looking dogs. I found a breeder and went to look at the puppies they had for sale. I looked at the litter and thought about how my friend’s boxer was very high strung and thought I should try to pick one that was not as wound up. There were about 6 or 7 puppies to choose from. All seemed to be playing and jumping. But one little guy, they called the runt of the liter, was sleeping. I remember looking at him and saying now that is just too perfect. I grabbed him up and his little face lit up. His big brown eyes looked right through me and into my soul. There is no other way to describe it. He, in just one look said “I was meant for to be with you.” I completed the transaction and drove my little buddy home. I named him Dino. I have to skip ahead but, it was October 26th. 1991, I am sure of it because it was my birthday.

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On 6 July 1995, I rescued a young black Field Spaniel in one of the busiest intersections in Seattle. She had been grazed by a car and was traumatized. I had to go into a Drs appt. before going to work and put her in the front seat of my car. I took her home, and saw to it that she was O K while I went to work. She had no I D and I did try to find an owner. Put up a fence in the back yard, and from then on, the bond took place. The Vet looked her over, gave her her shots, and guestimated her age at 3. She was a fantastic dog, and I watched her age over the years from a terrific athlete, to all the mallidies a dog of that age can receive. When she finally couldn’t control her bladder anymore , I had to make that ultimate decision to have her put to sleep. As a grown, real man, I have to say, it was a really tuff thing to handle, and that was 3 weeks ago, and I have tears in my eyes now while composing this. She was 15 years old, and the Vet came to my house to put her to sleep. It was 13 Oct. ,2007, and I really miss her.

Mike from Texas

We have wanted a puppy for ages and recently brought one home. We wanted a pure bred as we were looking for specific personality traits and temperment. We were fortunate enough to bring a Belgian Malinios into our home two weeks ago! He is a dream!

Toby became his name after my husband, my three boys and I each put a name in the hat and the name I wanted was chosen! Yeah. Though all the names do indeed fit him!

I’m thrilled to find this site and would like to include a link to my site I’ve recently started detailing Toby’s life with us!

Suzi from OK

I had to put my buddy of 15 years, 49 weeks down. I thought it would be horrible but the vet was a friend. He put a rocking chair in the office and I held my buddy Sam. He had suffered a rapid onset of some type of attack on his nervous system from what the vet told me. I put my love for him above the need for him to be at my side. I could not stand to see him not himself and he was not his usual self. My friend gave hime the shots to put him to sleep while I held him in my arms. I felt him draw his last breath and finally relax. I would not take a million dollars for that even though it hurt like hell. I was not so fortunate with my Malamute to be with her at her last. I have not quite dealt with losing her. The pain of losing a pet is awful but the love of having one and that love that hits you full force in the evening when you come home from the office after a not so great day makes it all worth while. Instead of Rescuing Sprite maybe the title should have been Sprite Rescues the Levin’s.

Lisa from LA

Submission: A true story about my Boston Terrier the night he died.

Last night was a very sad time for me. It was just a matter of time until Dusty, my companion for over 15 years, would go to the great dog house in the sky. It appears that he became disoriented and drifted onto the road, far away though still in front of his domain. He was laying at the edge of the road when my daughter found him, apparently hit by an automobile.
I was dreaming last night and awoke quite dazzled and came directly to my computer and started typing what I was experiencing. It seems as if Dusty were talking to me and this is what he said.

Dear Dr. Man:
Never have I been disrespectful to you. I never called you Doctor Man before, because I thought that would be disrespectful for me to do that. I always thought of you as my master; however, now, I feel that have earned the right to call you what everyone else calls you. So, Doctor Man, I love you and have from the first time my puppy eyes saw you.
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Mr. Levin,

Thank you for your wonderful book. At times it was hard to continue reading – the details you tell about the emotions leading up to and after your loss of Sprite were strikingly similar to those that my husband and I experienced in August 2006. I make a living in the political world and at moments found the excitement of the balance of the US senate paled in comparison to dealing with the final weeks I had with my dear boy Igor. We rescued Igor in the fall of 1994 when the 10 week old Lab mix was abandoned. We could never imagine that he would grow into 130lb dog and become such an important part of our family. Igor was diagnosed with cancer early in 2006. The Vet said he only had a few months to live and to everyone’s amazement he just kept on going for 6 months. His last spring on earth was probably his best. He spent hours sitting under the blossoming trees enjoying the sights and smells. In July we celebrated his 12th birthday and in mid August we said goodbye. You never really get over the loss – there are days I wish I could wrap my arms around him and kiss him just one more time. He will be in my heart and mind forever – I miss him with a heartache that is deeper than anything I have ever known. Igor gave more to us than we could ever have given him. We learned a lot from him in the end, lessons of courage, perseverance and appreciation for those we love. He was an inspiration.

Miriam from Missouri