The Lost Dogs

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

By: Jim Gorant

Narrated by: Richard Powers

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Sad story extremely well told

Great reader who emotes and gives the dogs a voice. it is sad in some places, but the end gives hope for change for all the four legged victims of dog fighting

so well done.

how people treat animals will tell you how they may treat humans. he should not have had such a light sentence. I do also believe in giving people chance. i have not heard or seen him try to correct what he has done.

Loved this book

I enjoyed how most of this was presented in a factual way, but not boring. It really allows the reader to form their own opinions. There were also some inferences made in how the doggos were feelings so parts of the story could be told from the doggos perspective. It was a great listen

Outstanding detail of rescue & redemption!!!

The narration is appropriate for such a serious story!!
The amount of work to cover all the stories of all the pitbulls, and weave in the court case so eloquently as to leave an indelible mark on the soul.
It is 2023, the Super Bowl has just ended yesterday, and they had brought Michael Vick on to do some broadcasting. I didn’t watch it now, and I never watched him play for Philly or anyone else.
I cheered when he went bankrupt!
Thank you!!! Thank you!!
For making me understand so much about the real strength of pitbulls…

The Lost Dogs

I loved this book. It was educational as well as a heart warming story. I loved the story and the narration. At first I thought I may not finish the book because the first 3 chapters were very hard to take but I am very glad I did. This is well worth your time. I am a pitbull lover and this just confirms how loyal and resilient they are.

The truth is hard to hear-grab your box of tissues

What did you like about this audiobook?

There finally was justice for the dogs, and with help from these wonderful people most of the dogs now have a wonderful life. Showed just what Pit Bulls are all about. Wonderful, loving, caring family dogs. How forgiving these dogs are. I don't feel Vick got the right punishment. I would have liked to see him really, really, suffer for what he did to these dogs.

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

I want to learn more about the justice system for our animals. Made me look up my State's Statute about dog fighting and animal cruelty.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

This book is so well written it lets you see what went on thru you minds eye.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

Nothing

Do you have any additional comments?

It was difficult to hear what Vick and his family and friends did to these dogs. It made me cry. I didn't know if I would get thru this book. But you cannot change things if you close your eyes to what is really going on.

Learned a lot in this book.

I enjoyed this book although I found it sad at times.
I hope we learned from this cruelty!

Even better than the “book”

I read “The Lost Dogs” yrs ago. Even met some of their Vick dogs at a visit to Best Friends. It was a wonderful,tho at times heartbreaking and enraging. Richard Powers does an AMAZING job making everything you feel enhanced. Every animal lover,advocate etc should read and then make anyone you know that believes all the misinformation about pitties read it! I saw so much of my rescued boy in some of these dogs. Best baby I’ve ever had! Keep the tissues handy.

Lovabulls

Emotional story with a better than expected outcome. The situation pulls at the heartstrings. The help given to the dogs does reinforce that there are good people in the world!

Vick got away with a slap on his hand

Took me years to be brave enough to read or listen to the book. Because I remember when this happened and being an animal advocate and rescuer, I knew it would make me feel all of the emotions a human can feel. It is a great book to learn what really happened from beginning to end. Thank you to all in this book that helped and changed these dogs lives for the better.