Reading: The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption

Sorry for all the book posts guys. I really want to get to this one though since there was some interest in it. So now brace yourself for the longest book review in the history of blog book reviews ...

I had a really hard time reading The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption. It was heartbreaking for me to read about how dogs are used for dogfighting. This book is about the farthest away you can get from being an "easy read", but despite the depressing impetus for it, it's a great book. Gorant tells the stories of the Vick dogs in a very factual, non-inflammatory way (something I could never do) and manages to bring together the technical and legal aspects of the work involved while still conveying the passion for rescue that was so critical in bringing the dogs through to the end.

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 ... 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. -- Publishers Weekly via Amazon.com

Due to a court imposed gag order, the people involved in the Vick case weren't allowed to talk about the work they were doing, until now. The Lost Dogs sheds light on all the work it took to save the victims of the case.  The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption is broken into three parts: Rescue, Reclamation, and Redemption.  The first part of the book, Rescue, outlines the details of the dogfighting ring and how it started, the investigation and its findings, and all the events that were shown in the media, but not quite fully explained at the time.  It is by far the most difficult part of the book to read as it outlines details of the dogfighting itself.

However, the book also details all the meticulous work that went into saving the dogs. It highlights the amazing people that worked and fought to make sure that the dogs came out ahead, and that Vick and his cohorts paid for their crimes. The details of the case are interesting and it sheds light on the events that played out so dramatically on TV. Gorant does an amazing job of jumping between the various stories of the dogs and the people working to help them behind the scenes.  He gives some great background on the efforts of the people involved, especially the people of BAD RAP, without going off on superfluous tangents. (I actually really loved how he gave a biography of BAD RAP and how it got started. Those people are just all around amazing and deserve to be highlighted in every pro-pittie book published until the end of time as far as I'm concerned.)

It was remarkable to read about how the dogs progressed and evolved. I know that I've watched a ton of TV spots talking about the progress of the Vick dogs. National Geographic specials, Dogtown, and spots on CNN how some of the dogs are now therapy dogs and doing great work. I've heard about Leo, Jonny Justice, Hector, and Handsome Dan. In a totally dork way, if I met one of those dogs it would be like meeting a celebrity for me. I get a little excited just thinking about it. If they were capable of signing autographs I would write and ask for one.



The book is honest though. Not every dog made it, and even some that escaped euthanasia met difficult ends. I cried. Often. I felt like I "knew" the dogs after awhile and it hurt to think they didn't make it. It wasn't always tears of sadness though.  It was heartwarming to read about those that did well and I felt a deep sense of pride on behalf of the all the rescuers. They really are stories of triumph.

As an aside: I feel like I have a personal connection to this story. T and I often wonder what we saved Melanie from, and there's a good chance it was from a similar dog fighting situation. When we found her she was in horrible shape and not well cared for, that part I think I've mentioned before on this blog. But she also had scars. The scars could have come from anything. We'll never know how long she was running around before we found her or what she encountered. But we also found her in an area prone to dog fighting. With the condition we found her in, her breed, and the area we found her, it doesn't add up to good odds for where she came from.  It kills me that anyone could have treated her as anything less than the amazing goofball that she is. The fact that Uba, a rescued Vick dog, looks just like Melanie doesn't help matters.

If you aren't sure you can handle reading the book, which I completely understand, I highly recommend checking out these videos that BAD RAP posted. Make sure you check out the "See Them Now" portion and see goofy Ernie :) They don't go into the same level of detail, but they provide an overview of some of the information presented in the book. You can also see more on The Lost Dogs Book website and facebook page. The dogs even have their own blog.

This story, really all the stories of the rescued Vick dogs, is truly just a small sample of the amazing resilience of pit bulls (and dogs in general). The people who worked so hard on their behalf are heroes, and I think this book only touches on what they must have gone through to rehabilitate so many dogs that even the "experts" deemed a lost cause.

Here's to you dog rescuers of the world. You rock.