The Lost Dogs
Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption
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4.6 • 83 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
An inspiring story of survival and our powerful bond with man's best friend, in the aftermath of the nation's most notorious case of animal cruelty.
Animal lovers and sports fans were shocked when the story broke about NFL player Michael Vick's brutal dog fighting operation. But what became of the dozens of dogs who survived? As acclaimed writer Jim Gorant discovered, their story is the truly newsworthy aspect of this case. Expanding on Gorant's Sports Illustrated cover story, The Lost Dogs traces the effort to bring Vick to justice and turns the spotlight on these infamous pit bulls, which were saved from euthanasia by an outpouring of public appeals coupled with a court order that Vick pay nearly a million dollars in "restitution" to the dogs.
As an ASPCA-led team evaluated each one, they found a few hardened fighters, but many more lovable, friendly creatures desperate for compassion. In The Lost Dogs, we meet these amazing animals, a number of which are now living in loving homes, while some even work in therapy programs: Johnny Justice participates in Paws for Tales, which lets kids get comfortable with reading aloud by reading to dogs; Leo spends three hours a week with cancer patients and troubled teens. At the heart of the stories are the rescue workers who transformed the pups from victims of animal cruelty into healing caregivers themselves, unleashing priceless hope.
Includes an 8-page photo insert.
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PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Expanding on his Sports Illustrated cover story, Gorant (Fanatic) offers a chilling investigation into Michael Vick s dog-fighting operation and the men and women who brought him to justice and rehabilitated the rescued dogs. Gorant outlines the rise of Bad Newz Kennels, describing in sometimes painful detail the abuse, torture, and execution of the animals particularly disturbing is an episode in which Vick and a friend swing a failed fighting dog over their heads like a jump rope and kill it by repeatedly slamming it into the ground and tracing the rescue of dozens of pit bulls seized from Vick s property. Gorant outlines the efforts to save these animals from euthanasia, challenging the negative public perceptions of pit bulls and reporting back on the status of dogs like Sox (now a certified therapy dog), Zippy (adopted by a family of five), and Iggy (still shy but growing comfortable with his adopted circle of friends). At a time when Vick has returned to professional football and much of the public outcry about Bad Newz Kennels has been forgotten, this book provides a stark reminder about the horror and prevalence of dog fighting.
Customer Reviews
Rollercoaster Ride GREAT read
As the headline indicates, this is a Rollercoaster ride of emotions. The highs of rescue and rehabilitation, the lows of the circumstances these dogs find themselves in. My opinions changed
throughout the book, having known what happened to Vick. I highly recommend this read, if only to bring to light what really goes on in an underground world you may know little about, realizing these dogs are a victim of a crime.
I have a rescued pit bull and this book made me rethink everything I have no idea what she may have been through before I knew her, she received some extra big hugs and kisses while I read this amazing book.
I now want to find out how some of the other dogs are doing who hadn't yet been adopted.
Love it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I have three pits and I love pitbulls and this book!
emotional rollercoaster
This book is incredible. The first half of the book is well written, but parts are very hard to read (descriptions of the frequent violence toward the dogs). I found myself smiling through most of the second half at how resilient these previously-beaten and severely-abused dogs were. Wonderful book.