If you haven’t read the most recent Washington Post story on the Vick dogs rescued from his fighting operation in 2007, we urge you to read and share it with all your friends. After all, can there ever be enough happy ending stories from a tragedy such as this?

A Second Chance

Twelve years ago, 47 dogs were rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation and allowed to live. They’ve enriched the lives of countless humans and altered the course of animal welfare.

Even though most of the dogs have since passed on, many groups and families gave their all to chain-ge the lives of these dogs for the better. They deserve a place in history and our gratitude.  Read the full article and see the heartwarming photos here.

In addition, the article mentions that the nonprofit Dogs Deserve Better bought the property, and turned it from the Bad Newz Kennels to the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.

Did you ever wander how that came to be?

On December 1st, from author and founder of Dogs Deserve Better—Tamira Thayne—comes the book many have been waiting for:

It Went to the Dogs: How Vick’s Dogfighting Compound Became a Haven for Rescue Pups

From the Introduction:

The house sat empty, an eerie white sentinel against the flat winter landscape, now guarding only whispers of the past. A six-foot white metal fence with coded entry gate lined the country road, abandoning its purpose at the property line and allowing passage to all with the temerity and curiosity to walk around.

The bullet hole in the front window went unnoticed.

**

I was alone, parked across the street, and early for my appointment with the Hampton Roads, Virginia realtor. Today was the day I’d tour Vick’s former dogfighting compound, something I’d never imagined nor particularly wanted to do.

Seemed pretty creepy to me.

I felt the whispers surround me, reaching out. The rescuer in me wanted to rescue the ghosts, too; embrace the broken dogs who lay undiscovered and probably buried on the property, assure them they weren’t forgotten. I shuddered, pulling myself together…

Stay tuned for more information, coming soon! To browse all of author Tamira Thayne’s current books, visit her author page.