Janice
09-21-2010, 06:11 AM
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/09/16/what-happened-to-michael-vicks-dogs-jim-gorant-tells-the-story/?icid=main|main|dl5|sec1_lnk1|171685
What Happened to Michael Vick's Dogs? Jim Gorant Tells the Story in His New Book (http://www.pawnation.com/2010/09/16/what-happened-to-michael-vicks-dogs-jim-gorant-tells-the-story/)
In 2007, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (http://www.pawnation.com/tag/michael+vick/) made headlines, but it wasn't for his performance on the field. Set up on the grounds of his Virginia home was Bad Newz, a pseudo kennel that was really a dog-fighting business stocked with 51 pit bulls. Journalist Jim Gorant first wrote about the sordid case for "Sports Illustrated." This week, his new book, "The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption (http://www.thelostdogsbook.com/)," hits stores. We asked Gorant to tell us what happened to the animals and share tales from this latest project.
Of the 51 dogs, 47 have new owners, and one participates in a kids reading program. Can you tell us more?
It's incredible, especially given the hoops people had to jump through to save the dogs from being euthanized. Both PETA and the Humane Society were advocating for that route, noting that there are thousands of dogs without violent histories that need homes. There was also the liability issue for the government, which had to consider what, if any, upside there would be to letting the dogs live. If one of Vick's pit bulls was placed in a new home and something happened, there would be backlash. But it paid off when you look at a dog like Jonny Justice, who's part of the reading program "Paws for Tales." He's nothing but a super-sweet dog who loves kids.
Why did you decide to turn your "Sports Illustrated" article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1150095/index.htm)on Michael Vick into a book?
It was a combination of things. When I was working on the "Sports Illustrated" piece, the backstory of the Vick case was certainly compelling, but I wasn't sure there was enough there for something larger like a book. What really convinced me though was a call I got from the editor who acquired the book. After reading my article, he phoned and we talked about how his parents had rescued a pit bull, and how misunderstood the breed was in our society. So I thought to myself, "If someone is interested enough to contact me about doing something bigger, there must be an audience out there." There was also the fact that I'd focused mostly on telling the dog story in the magazine, but there's also a strong people component, which is what this book is so much about: the individuals who worked to rehab the dogs and those who adopted Vick's pit bulls.
Vick served 23 months in jail following his conviction. Do you think that was a fair sentence?
It's one of the hardest questions I ask myself, and I change my view on it often. A lot of people I interviewed feel he got off way too easy. But we have a justice system, and when you get punished, it's no one's place to ask for more jail time. There are others like Vick who've gotten more and less jail time. I think the prosecutors did a great job getting what they got. Federal guidelines recommend no jail time, so he actually served above what he should have. By getting him to plea and serve the 23 months, he avoided additional counts, like RICO and interstate gambling charges, which would have put him away for much longer.
Do you think he's reformed?
I haven't spoken to him, so it's hard to say if his experiences in jail convinced him that dog fighting is wrong. He has made appearances in conjunction with Humane Society events, which were not court appointed, although I've heard mixed reports about his actual enthusiasm for them.
What about the people who defended Vick?
There are individuals who don't believe dog fighting is a problem. They subscribe to the mentality of "your dog, your property, your business." In certain parts of the country, it's also part of the culture. That's how Vick was raised; he grew up in southern Virginia, and by the time he was 8 years old, he'd seen his first dog fight. By the time he was 25, he was in the public eye and making $10 million, but he didn't equate this with the fact that dog fighting was no longer a good idea.
Why are pit bulls targeted for dog fighting?
Pit bulls have certain attributes that make them prized for fighting, like strong jaws and necks and a determination to please people. If you play fetch, you better get some Bengay for your arm! But this same trait can be used against them. In dog fighting, pit bulls will keep on going even when they can barely walk... you don't judge people based on an entire group, and the same thing goes for dogs. There are poodles who try to bite every time you come near them. Like humans, each dog is unique and that's what is so ground-breaking about the way the courts approached the Vick dogs. Every single one was assessed individually rather than as a group of "fighting dogs."
[B]What's the overarching lesson you hope readers take away from your book?
Pit bulls are not bad dogs, but they can have bad owners. And if there's one great result from the Vick case, it's that animals deserve a second chance.
.
What Happened to Michael Vick's Dogs? Jim Gorant Tells the Story in His New Book (http://www.pawnation.com/2010/09/16/what-happened-to-michael-vicks-dogs-jim-gorant-tells-the-story/)
In 2007, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (http://www.pawnation.com/tag/michael+vick/) made headlines, but it wasn't for his performance on the field. Set up on the grounds of his Virginia home was Bad Newz, a pseudo kennel that was really a dog-fighting business stocked with 51 pit bulls. Journalist Jim Gorant first wrote about the sordid case for "Sports Illustrated." This week, his new book, "The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption (http://www.thelostdogsbook.com/)," hits stores. We asked Gorant to tell us what happened to the animals and share tales from this latest project.
Of the 51 dogs, 47 have new owners, and one participates in a kids reading program. Can you tell us more?
It's incredible, especially given the hoops people had to jump through to save the dogs from being euthanized. Both PETA and the Humane Society were advocating for that route, noting that there are thousands of dogs without violent histories that need homes. There was also the liability issue for the government, which had to consider what, if any, upside there would be to letting the dogs live. If one of Vick's pit bulls was placed in a new home and something happened, there would be backlash. But it paid off when you look at a dog like Jonny Justice, who's part of the reading program "Paws for Tales." He's nothing but a super-sweet dog who loves kids.
Why did you decide to turn your "Sports Illustrated" article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1150095/index.htm)on Michael Vick into a book?
It was a combination of things. When I was working on the "Sports Illustrated" piece, the backstory of the Vick case was certainly compelling, but I wasn't sure there was enough there for something larger like a book. What really convinced me though was a call I got from the editor who acquired the book. After reading my article, he phoned and we talked about how his parents had rescued a pit bull, and how misunderstood the breed was in our society. So I thought to myself, "If someone is interested enough to contact me about doing something bigger, there must be an audience out there." There was also the fact that I'd focused mostly on telling the dog story in the magazine, but there's also a strong people component, which is what this book is so much about: the individuals who worked to rehab the dogs and those who adopted Vick's pit bulls.
Vick served 23 months in jail following his conviction. Do you think that was a fair sentence?
It's one of the hardest questions I ask myself, and I change my view on it often. A lot of people I interviewed feel he got off way too easy. But we have a justice system, and when you get punished, it's no one's place to ask for more jail time. There are others like Vick who've gotten more and less jail time. I think the prosecutors did a great job getting what they got. Federal guidelines recommend no jail time, so he actually served above what he should have. By getting him to plea and serve the 23 months, he avoided additional counts, like RICO and interstate gambling charges, which would have put him away for much longer.
Do you think he's reformed?
I haven't spoken to him, so it's hard to say if his experiences in jail convinced him that dog fighting is wrong. He has made appearances in conjunction with Humane Society events, which were not court appointed, although I've heard mixed reports about his actual enthusiasm for them.
What about the people who defended Vick?
There are individuals who don't believe dog fighting is a problem. They subscribe to the mentality of "your dog, your property, your business." In certain parts of the country, it's also part of the culture. That's how Vick was raised; he grew up in southern Virginia, and by the time he was 8 years old, he'd seen his first dog fight. By the time he was 25, he was in the public eye and making $10 million, but he didn't equate this with the fact that dog fighting was no longer a good idea.
Why are pit bulls targeted for dog fighting?
Pit bulls have certain attributes that make them prized for fighting, like strong jaws and necks and a determination to please people. If you play fetch, you better get some Bengay for your arm! But this same trait can be used against them. In dog fighting, pit bulls will keep on going even when they can barely walk... you don't judge people based on an entire group, and the same thing goes for dogs. There are poodles who try to bite every time you come near them. Like humans, each dog is unique and that's what is so ground-breaking about the way the courts approached the Vick dogs. Every single one was assessed individually rather than as a group of "fighting dogs."
[B]What's the overarching lesson you hope readers take away from your book?
Pit bulls are not bad dogs, but they can have bad owners. And if there's one great result from the Vick case, it's that animals deserve a second chance.
.