The Lost Dogs

Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption

By: Jim Gorant

Narrated by: Richard Powers

This is 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 dogfighting 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, who were saved from euthanasia by an outpouring of public appeals coupled with a court order that Vick pay nearly one 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.

©2010 Jim Gorant (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Beautifully written and forthright…The Lost Dogs should make some news; not just for animal lovers but for anyone pondering the human propensity for violence and goodness.” (Library Journal)

“You will come away from The Lost Dogs warmed by the knowledge that it wasn't only Vick who got a second chance.” (George Dohrmann, senior editor at Sports Illustrated and author of Play Their Hearts Out)

Love the book and the narration

I really loved this book. I never realized what happened with the Michael Vick dog fighting issue. This book really brought home the horrors of the incident, along with the challenges of the rehabilitation. Also, a lot of the specifics of the actual case and the people behind it. Once I started listening to this book, I had a hard time putting it down.

A Moving Tale

I hesitated before listening to this book because I knew I couldn't take a gruesome description of Michael Vick's dog fighting ring. Instead, the author shows the horrors of dog fighting by showing what these dogs went through when they were rescued. This is a moving story of good and caring people who make up for the heartless people like Vick and other dog fighters. It is also a story about how how we should not judge dogs or people in groups -- only as individuals. The narrator certainly enhances the story.

Excellent

I absolutely love this book. it's a great telling of the Vick dogs and their story. it's even better in audio. The performance was really good. I laughed and cried in my car. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Excellent Book

What wonderful writing. I loved the perspective from which the writer wrote the many stories. I highly recommend this book. I used to be fearful of pit bulls before listening to this book.

Lost Dogs

I liked hearing about each saved dog’s story. How they were healed, and became healers themselves.