Customer Reviews

DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a collection of stories written by both paid staff and volunteers at the Best Frieds Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, about their experiences with dogs that most of society cannot or will not help in their time of most need.

My wife and I have visited the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah numerous times and as volunteers worked with their staff and other volunteers in Mississippi and Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina. We have seen first hand the dedication and professionalism of the Best Friends organization and know the stories in this collection are not make believe. These are the real thing and the amazing thing is they do it day in and day out.

As the title suggests the stories, included in fifteen chapters, deal with the rescue, rehabilitation, and redemption efforts of the Best Friends group in the face of what is sometimes overwhelming odds. You will meet the aftermath of NFL star Michael Vick's shameful activities and the heroic efforts to salvage the dogs he tortured and maimed; the story of Rush, the dog sent to Best Friends "Dogtown" in Kanab from the Lebanon war zone is amazing and will renew your faith in humanity; and the story of the last days of Bruno will forever remain in your mind. These are just a few of the stories that illustrate the work and mission of this remarkable group of people that deal with animals that have literally looked into the face of evil.

This is not a touchy-feely type book. It is the story of people with soul that not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to animal welfare. More and more books about animals are being published every year but this one is the real thing. This book will make you proud and give you hope in the face of what increasingly seems to be overwhelming odds in what is truly saintly work; the rescue, rehabilitation, and redemption of those that cannot help themselves.

Highly recommended.

There are lots of dog owners, but not all of them are dog LOVERS. The difference between the average dog owner, who sees his pet as something that has little more value than a chair he owns, is worlds apart from a dog lover, who cherishes his animals and always wants the best for them. Dog lovers make up the population of Dog Town, and they get to tell their stories about dogs they have cared for and rehabilitated over the yrs.

The book starts out with the sad story of Georgia, one of Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennel pits that was trained fron puppyhood to maim and kill. Vick and his kind treat the dogs in a way that make Hannibal Lecter look like a sweetheart. If ESPN played videos of dog fights and how the dogs are treated, I doubt there would be any supporters for Vick and his second chance in the NFL. Dog Town took many of Vick's dogs against the advice of other animal groups who believed they could not be retrained.

The people at Dog Town are heroes in every sense of the word, and this book inspired me to work harder in my own community for the welfare of dogs. I also gleaned information about training techniques for dogs that are shy or have food aggression. This is not a dog training book per se, but the stories give examples of how the people try to reward good behavior and dampen negative behavior.

If you are a dog LOVER, you will love this book and want to get a second job so you can send them lots of money every month to keep Dog Town going!

Anyone familiar with Best Friends Animal Society will know what to expect from DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption. The Best Friends magazine and website are absolutely top notch in production values, and this book is equally effective. If you are a dog lover, prepare for a full court press on your emotions when you read this book. The techniques that have been so effective in spreading the Best Friends message are in evidence here, making for a highly readable book.

Best Friends is a leader in the no-kill movement and works on all fronts to rescue, rehabilitate and redeem animals. The Society was well positioned for rapid response to Hurricane Katrina and some of the dogs featured in the book came from that devastated area. Best Friends owns and leases nearly 38,000 acres of land in Utah, boundaried by some of the nation's most glorious national parks, in a canyon formerly used for filming Westerns. There they run the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where 2,000 animals make their (hopefully temporary) homes and 4,500 people volunteer every year. The canine section, Dogtown, is well-known as the subject and site of National Geographic TV program of the same name.

The goal for all Best Friends animals is a "forever home"--in other words, adoption. Their basic principle is that no animal is too handicapped, unsocialized, aggressive, or unappealing to be rehabilitated and placed in a home. The stories are told by Best Friends workers, veterinarians, volunteers and supporters, and feature dogs from many backgrounds, many of them rescued from hoarders, puppy mills, or dog fighting operations. The book opens with the sad story of football player Michael Vick's fighting dogs. The reader's tears of sympathy for the dogs are tempered by the happy endings, and each story also highlights some aspect of the society's work. A highly effective mix, and a fascinating glimpse into the methods used to undo the damage some of these dogs have suffered.

There is a brief mention of Best Friends' origin in a group of seekers who "dropped out" during the 1960s. The history of the organization would be a story of its own, but this book is beautifully complete in its focus on today's work and the dogs who benefit from it. The society believes that kindness to animals leads to a better society, and this moving little book makes that goal seem both worthwhile and attainable. Well done, Dogtown!

Dogtown is a no kill sanctuary for abused, abandoned, and unwanted dogs. As author Stefan Betchel notes:

Many animals who come streaming into Dogtown are like a throng of mute refuges - tattered and torn, injured in both body and spirit, having survived grim hoarding houses, dog fighting rings, overcrowded shelters, or simple neglect and homelessness

Notably, Dogtown has provided a home to many of the dogs abused in Michael Vick's now defunct dog fighting operation. But whether famous or anonymous, every dog has a story. Many of these stories are shared in this compilation book.

All of the stories are compelling. However the stories of Bruno and Mr. Bones probably best illustrate Dogtown's unique mission of serving dogs in all stages of life. Bruno, an ailing elderly dog, was dumped at an overcrowded shelter. When a caring shelter volunteer persuaded Dogtown to take him, Bruno's luck changed for the better. As one Dogtown employee prophetically reflected at the time, "here at the sanctuary it's quality over quantity and Bruno is definitely a dog that has a potential to have a quality life, even if it turns out to be a short one." While Bruno's time at Dogtown was brief, it was packed with quality. In contrast to Bruno, Mr. Bones was a longtime resident at Dogtown. When he finally found his forever home four months before passing away, his owner confessed "if I had him only one day, it was worth it. He was something special."

Dogs rule at Dogtown!




Review based on a borrowed public library copy.

I really, really enjoyed this book. As a rule, I avoid books about animals because for some reason, they most often have a sad or disturbing ending. However, this book took a much more uplifting stance. The book contained a number of stories about dogs that had been helped and found their way to a better life. It reminds me that there are a lot of people who care so much, that they dedicate their lives to helping animals in need. I loved the book from beginning to end and think anyone who loves dogs would love this book.

This is a great book! I loved Marley and Me, this book was 20 times better. I live in Utah and this place is a lot of talk here. The stories are sad and happy all in one. If you have ever rescued a dog you can relate, maybe not to the severity of these dogs. I loved this book so much I plan on purchasing it as gifts. A must have for dog lovers!

Superb!! If you have watched the tv show, you will recognize some of these dogs... I encourage you to read it anyway. Their stories do not get old or less touching in the retelling. Read and recap the lives of Georgia, Wiggles, Bones, Bruno, Vivian and more. Some of them were at one time Michael Vicks dogs, pit bulls bred to fight that survived appalling circumstances. Two dogs covered in this novel are Katrina survivors. A different trauma, but with lifelong effects. My heart goes out to these dogs and I am glad there is an organization that takes care of them.

I also found this educational. There are bits by Pat Whitacre that offered me great insight on training do's and don'ts regarding my own dogs. I realize I have gone about some things the wrong way and thankfully, I can remedy my technique, thanks to this book.

Higly recommended whether you have watched the show or not. For those not familiar with the show, it is on National Geographic channel.

This story makes me want to visit Utah every year for vacation and volunteer for care duty with Dogtown. This book goes behind the scenes of the creation and operation of Dogtown, far more the you will find in the Video series. This is a must read for anyone in the animal rescue field, and a highly suggested read for anyone who considers themselves to be animal lovers.

DogTown is an entertaining and heartwarming collection of real-life stories, about dogs who have ended up at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.

As a collection of dog stories, it's a bit like "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul". It's heartwarming and inspirational, and filled with wonderful dogs. But it's not a tearjerker; each story will have you smiling with delight as the dog finds his niche in the world. There are very few "I loved this dog and then he died" stories here.

A photo of the canine star accompanies each story in the book. It's very nice to see the furry face that belongs with each story - and they are great pictures, full of personality. Each story is the story of a particular dog, told by different employees and volunteers at the sanctuary. Since each story has a different author, the writing quality is a bit uneven. But this a book that you read for the inspirational story, not for the prose.

This book made me aware that there is also a television show, on the National Geographic channel, that features the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The book was completely enjoyable without ever having seen the show.

Dogtown documents tales of dogs placed at Best Friends Animal Society, a no kill shelter in Utah. The stories in the book are moving and reflect what most dog lovers already know about canines - each has a story, a personality and all are worthy of our care and respect. Best Friends is often the only stop for imperfect dogs, either through age, disease, victims of natural disasters, puppy mills or Michael Vick's dog fighting endeavor. The staff will not give up on any dog.

Each of the fifteen chapters contains one story about a particular dog rescue. Usually these tales involve physical problems along with behavior issues. Information is relayed in a clear non-technical manner. We are given a general description of a wound, told it is cleaned and sutured, but the details of what was used to clean it and how it was sutured are not included. We are told in a general way how a trainer planned to change bad behavior but not told every step in the long process. The author provides the perfect balance. Too much detail breaks the flow of the story for the reader. If all the details were given the book would have been cumbersome and a much less enjoyable read.

The stories of Dogtown accomplish the goal of greater public awareness of this very unique shelter and to show in crystal clear detail the results of not spaying/neutering and of purchasing from the puppy mill industry. One illustration after another is provided as evidence that there is rarely a reason to give up on any dog - all have value. If sufficient time and effort is expended, all can be trained, no matter what their age. This book and the stories contained within it provide a touching yet not maudlin record of good people working hard to help dogs physically recover, learn to make good decisions and find forever homes.

Sometimes I avoid dog books because I become upset when reading of an animal's suffering. For those who share this trait, there is no need to fear this book. It is filled with life affirming moments both from the actions of the wonderful staff and the dogs themselves. Even when dealing with a death there is great solace that the dog found its way to a place where it could be helped, made comfortable and treated with dignity.

The organization of the book -- one-story-per-chapter -- makes it perfect to read while traveling or when only small amounts of time are available. If you are a dog lover, or know one, this book will not disappoint.