Times were desperate for me in 8/05 as I suffered through the torture of a L4/L5 disc herniation. Unable to fly and barely able to sleep without popping oxycodones like they were M&M’s, I was at my wit’s end. Then one night, a little tabby showed up as a miracle on my doorstep and things took a turn for the better. Condoleeza, as she came to be known could almost feel my pain. When I would lay prone on the floor, she would climb up onto my back and lay there as a “kitty heating pad” of sorts. I’m not kidding!

I didn’t know it at the time but I needed that cat as much, if not more than she needed me. A single guy with no kids, the cat provided me companionship and took my mind off the pain. Two years later, my back is mostly healed up and Condi is a full grown prowling machine! When I’m not in the air, her and I are almost inseparable.

Sean from TN

Mark, I found my little “Kobe” at a shelter …he was a little stray just 5 wks. old….I fell in love w/him when I laid eyes on him…..I couldn’t bring him home for 3 more weeks until he was neutered….the very first night I brought him home I put him in the bed with me and we fell asleep together with his little head nestled in my neck and his little pay across my upper chest…..I fell more in love with him and I knew we should be together. My mom had died 20 yrs before and the day I put my name in for him, was my Mother’s birthday…when I asked when he was born…they figured March 17th…that was my children’s other grandmother’s birthday….I knew I should have this dog.
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I’ve been around dogs, cats, horses, and other various animals my whole life. Even raised a Great Horned Owl for a while. So I can tell you I really love animals.

I lost my Father and Mother eight weeks apart. My dad (USMCR, Ret.) died Nov. 13th, 04. Three days after the Marine Corps Birthday. A day that was very special to both of us. See I was in the Marines also, (81-87). My mother passed 8 weeks later. I think she went because her true love was waiting for her. In my fathers will he said I was to receive his horse, Friday. He stipulated that if I couldn’t take him I was to “put him down”. Of course I couldn’t do that. Friday being my fathers last horse in a long list of great animals.
I took the horse from AZ to TX. He didn’t know what to do with himself. He came from a 1/4 acre corral to 52 acres! Talk about watching a horse “run free”.
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To you my friends, I need to tell you that my dear canine companion and friend of 13 1/2 years, Carolina, had to be “put down” on Friday, December 10, 2004. She was nearly 17 years old.

Over the past months, her kidney/liver failure had increasingly made her uncomfortable and increasingly loose control of her body and her sense of dignity. Though agonizing to do, I decided to put her down twice earlier this year while she was experiencing some severe physical setbacks. Yet, each time, she seemed to truly know what was about to occur, and both times “miraculously” rallied all her energies and was “back to normal” … normal as a 17 year old dog could be — slow in moving, problems with back legs; but engaged in play and with her more recently adapted Shitzu “sister,” – “Star.” Much to my joy and surprise, Carolina’s will to live gave us almost an additional year together. Yet, when I came home from work on Thursday night, it was completely clear that waiting even a day or two or three more would have doomed her to a cruel death. There was no uncertainty about what needed to be done. I was comforting her throughout the night and she was comforted by Liva’ Snaps and my holding her and petting and talking to her until the final moment.
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Yes i am a fan and dog lover. My e-mail name is for memories for my beloved yellow lab. I have just made friends with sofie a 3 months old lab keep the faith and remenber you are not alone.Ann from Texas

No story, just wanted to submit Yankee Doodle Duchess’ pix

Keep up the good work Mark….luv ya!

June from MD