My dog Courage came to me about 8 years ago, not long after my ex abandoned my sons and me.
I have raised my two boys alone, (haven’t heard from their mom) since they were 5 and 7. I never remarried, and Courage has helped me in raising my sons.
I was diagnosed w/ major clinical depression about that time, but every med I was given was worse than the depression. Courage turned out to be the best anti-depressant I could ever hope for.
When I was tired from working and raising kids, Courage was there to play. When I was lonely at night, Courage was there beside me in bed, reminding me I was not alone.
Last June, I was found to have a malignant colon cancer. Courage is with me when I’ve been sick from radiation and chemo.
I am so convinced Courage was a little something extra for me from God, in addition to two fantastic sons, like icing on an already good cake! I can’t look at him without being reminded how God loves me, how He thinks about “little extras” I’ve never deserved.
Now my buddy has had a knot come up on his side, and I will sell my car if I have to, to take care of him. I owe him, big time, and I REALLY owe God, but how can I ever repay Him?
I guess by loving the little guy He gave me. What wonderful gifts God gives!

— Tony from Ringgold, GA

We have rescued many animals over the years, we have now 4 cats and two dogs all rescued from kill shelters or from being surrrendered. With the foreclosures, many people are having to give up their beloved pets. I hope to be able to save as many as possible, I am hopeful more will do the same.
We call ourselves “TT’s Angels in memoriam of my cat TT who has passed on to the great house above. Recently we rescued a Pitt Mix who was a “bait dog” and was going to be euthanized because she would NOT fight. I went and got her, and she is one of the most loving of all the pets I have rescued. We rescued a Great Pyrenees named “Bear” he was shelter bound as well because he didn’t get along with “new boyfriend”. He’s 160#’s of fur, and we love him! I will post pix of Bear and Cali if I am able to post more than one picture. Thank you for all you continue to do for us! We are very grateful.

We are not a non-profit organization, just a family saving one at a time. we also take all animals to the Veternarian to be checked out, and spayed / neutered. when re-homing them we never ask for more than what is spent on Veternarian care for the specific prospective adoptee. We also do fostering for Military families who are going to be temporarily stationed over – seas and cannot find a family member or friend to care for their pet. We don’t feel they should lose their pets because they are going to serve in the military on our behalf.

— Tammy from Citrus Heights, CA

This is Millie. She is an estimated 11 years old now, and we have had her with us since she was about 3 years old. She is a rescue dog, a female beagle, from the Kenton County dog pound. She was just 3 days from being put down for lack of space. We saved her and she is the love of our llife. We adore her and I think she knows we saved her. She is wonderful. she runs to greet me when I get home from work, tail wagging like crazy! She keeps an eye on the house, barks when she thinks we are being threatened. Millie does three things real well. She looks adorable, keeps us safe and does her business outside. A wonderful dog. My wife and twin daughters love the dog as well. Yes, dogs like Millie are special. We look forward to several more wonderful years with her as a member of the family.

— John from Lakeside Park, KY

The time finally came when my wife and I decided it was time to add another member to the family. We were ready. Except that after three wonderful children, we decided this next new member should have four legs instead of two. Yes, a dog. But not just any dog, it had to be a Collie. Since age five, I had had Collies in my life. Macintosh, the humongous rusty red collie, Lad, a sable and white Collie; the noble guardian of our family in my teen years and now we have a stunning tri-color (black with white chest and tan accents). Collies are notoriously mischievous, largely due to their high intelligence. They are always seeking stimulation; sometimes in ways that you don’t want to experience. This new family member is wonderful loveable and highly boisterous. He is trouble with a tail and aptly named; Captain Jack Sparrow. Some people even say he has Johnny Depp’s eyes!

Jack was a Christmas gift. He was to be the perfect Christmas gift, or so we thought. We checked and researched breeders and farms sought out our best options – avoiding puppy mills and amateurs, but looking for someone who knew the breed; understood majesty of this Scottish import and appreciated their unique qualities as we did. We found them. Jack was perfect in every way. Less than a year later, a little before that next Thanksgiving, we found out that he was not quite the perfect gift we thought we had found. Jack had a serious case of hip dysplasia. The irony was that he was checked several times and guaranteed to be free of that and other dreaded conditions. Rather than take the route that so many take and put him down, we chose to send him in for surgery. It was a sacrifice and he did require considerable daily care and therapy from the family, but what a wonderful lesson for the children. Jack was the perfect gift, but with a few perfect flaws. Today he is healthy, active and still causing significant trouble, crunching up remote controls, destroying very nice digital cameras and ripping pieces of pizza or hot dogs out of our girl’s hands when they are not paying close enough attention; truly a pirate at heart! Like most good Collies, he herds and scolds his “sheep” and runs the household while protecting all of us through his constant vigilance at all hours.

— Kevin from Staford, VA

We had lost our last German Shepherd at 8yrs to cancer, and decided a year later to replace her, though I thought it would be impossible. I did my research on the internet and decided on a 4mo. old male German Shepherd from a breeder in Texas.

Upon picking him up at the airport, we received a scared puppy who had never left his home and peers. In the car he immediately cuddled up to my wife, which was his first bonding experience. We had three kids at the house at that time, in their pre and early teens, and for some reason .Cisco was scared to death of our older son, David.

A week went by and my wife said if he doesn’t “bond” with Dave, we have to send him back. I told her, give him 30 days, and we’ll see. By week two, he was fine.

Cisco was rather large, 110, lbs. and was also rather intimidating, if you didn’t know him. He developed his own personal relationships with each family member, with me being his “alpha” of our pack.

Although he was protective of his home and family, he was absolutely the sweetest dog you had ever met. He became our block’s favorite dog, with a particularly gentle affinity for kids.

Cisco and I became as close as an owner and dog could be, doing everything with me, including going .ona long walks in the countryside, with him never venturing more than 10ft from me to make sure I was okay. He would do anything for me, as I would for him.

At 12 yrs, he developed arthritis and at 13yrs, we noticed it had gotten worse. We also noticed a growth on the inside of his upper gum, which grew to the point we thought his tooth was abscessed. We took him to the vet to have the tooth removed and they called me while he was under, and said his tooth was fine, but want to take a sample of the abscess, which I approved.

The following day the vet called back with the news that he had “bone cancer” which was not treatable. Of course we were all devastated, and gave him maybe 6 months. We kept him on pain medication until it became apparent that it was “time”. God knows he would have stayed by our side to his last breath.

It’s now been 8 months since his passing, and I still find myself coming to tears when I see something that reminds me of him. He was truly a “once in a life-time” dog. Time heals all, they say, but I will always miss our times together.

I take comfort in the fact that he had a good, long life, and gave as much love as he received. People say that they’ll never get another pet, because the pain is too great when they go. leave us. All I know is, Cisco’s time with us on this earth was worth every second!

— Dave from Plesanton, CA

When I finally read your book about Sprite this summer, it brought back all the horrible memories of when I lost my dog Bug. She was a Beagle/Shepard mix with the prettiest eyes and sweetest disposition of any dog I ever had — and I’ve had dogs all my life. We walked every day in the park by Beach Drive. In 2000, I was ill and on some heavy-duty meds. I swear that dog and our walks kept me alive. She started to develop fatty tumors. She had heart worms when we got her. Through all the surgeries and pain, she never whimpered. Then she was diagnosed with cancer throughout her body. There was nothing we could do except keep her comfortable. We took our walks up to the3 day she died. At about midnight, I heard her crying. I knew it was bad. She was walking blindly into objects and crying. It broke my heart. We took her to the all night clinic and did what was necessary. I still tear up when I think about it and I’m an old conservative who spent 20+ years as a business owner before becoming a teacher in the ghetto after 9-11. I don’t cry often or easily. We got another dog and I love her — even though she came from the pound pregnant with six puppies who destroyed my den. Now I have two dogs, the mom (Pig because she snorts) and Mojo, one of the puppies. Despite that, I still miss the Bug every day. She was special and a gift from God when I needed it most. I’ve read all your books and listened to the show hundreds of times, but to really know you, one must read about Sprite. Thanks for the opportunity this board provides.

— Dave from Silver Springs, MD