Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance

by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, William Muñoz (Photographer)

When Michael Vick's dog fighting ring was discovered, more than forty dogs were rescued. But their struggle was far from over. Most animal advocates believed the former fighting dogs were too damaged to save, but Audie and his kennel mates would prove them wrong when public outcry and the publicity surrounding Michael Vick's punishment won them a chance at a happy life. Teaming up once again with William Muñoz, photo-essay veteran Dorothy Hinshaw Patent gives an emotional account of one dog's heartwarming story, showing how Audie, who was only a puppy when he was rescued, was rehabilitated, adopted, and now enjoys the love he deserves.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Juvenile

48 pages, Library Binding

First published May 10, 2011

About the author

As a child, my favorite activity was exploring nature, especially finding animals like frogs, toads, and lizards. I kept tropical fish, had a dog, and loved riding horses. My love of animals led to a Ph.D. degree from U.C. Berkley in Zoology. In grad school I met and married fellow student Greg Patent. Our two sons, David and Jason, were born before we finished school. I wanted to use my training and my knowledge, but I also wanted to raise my sons and be there for them when they needed me. I decided that writing the kind of books I'd always loved reading was a good solution to my dilemma, and that turned out to be true. One of my favorite things is learning new "stuff," and every time I tackle a new book project I get to indulge myself in that passion. I'm a lucky gal!

Fast forward to the present. Our sons are grown and have their own families. We live in Missoula, MT, where Greg is now a food writer (http://www.thebakingwizard.com) and a radio personality (httpp://www.mtpr.org--look for Food Guys). My writing has expanded to other nonfiction topics, especially ones dealing with the Westward Expansion period of U.S. history. I've taught writing classes in many venues, visited schools in most U.S. states, attended many conferences for teachers and librarians, won a number of awards, and had great travel adventures in pursuit of my subject matter.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Audie by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent is one of the most amazing animal stories I've read. It's the true story about a pit bull puppy rescued from Bad Newz Kennels, a dogfighting kennel created and maintained by NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

The book follows Audie's recovery and challenges with his new owner. I was astonished by all the beautiful color photos of Audie with his owner.

The book also discusses a few of the others dogs who were rescued.

It's unbelievable that people can be so cruel to animals. This book is a wonderful tool to teach children about being responsible, caring for, and nurturing animals.

I loved all the added educational material in the back including: what is a pit bull, BAD RAP animal rescue organization, information for further reading, and the Michael Vick Case timeline.

5*****

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In April of 2007, authorities raided scumbag Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. There they discovered evidence of a dog fighting ring. The dogs, mostly pit bull terriers, were hauled away to be kept as evidence until the trials were concluded. Then the animals were scheduled to be put to sleep, as it was assumed they would be too dangerous to live around people and other animals. But, several animal rights groups asked the court for a chance to test the pit bulls to see if they were safe to handle. The results were surprising. Despite their cruel beginnings, and having spent months penned in cages, out of 49 dogs tested, all but one were ruled safe to be companion animals.

This is the story of Number 86, and the couple who adopted him.



Dutch was later renamed Audie, after war hero Audie Murphy. The author reveals how Audie worked through trust issues, and attended obedience classes, easily passing his Canine Good Citizen test. Then it was discovered that Audie needed surgery to correct a problem with his knees. No Cone of Shame for this pup - his owner made him wear little pants so he couldn't chew his stitches.


Ba-ha-ha! Sorry - I crack up every time I see that picture.

This is a happy, uplifting story about rehabilitated dogs enjoying their lives. The book is chock-full of photos of Audie, and many of the other dogs rescued from Bad Newz. The last few pages in the book provide detailed information about pit bulls, rescue organizations, and the Vick case. This is a wonderful read for older children, adults, and all dog lovers.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Michael Vick's kennels were raided, officials planned to put all the dogs to sleep. After all, their life at the Vick kennels consisted of training to fight to the death and being underfed to encourage aggressive behavior. Many believed these dogs mostly likely could not be rehabilitated and needed to be put down.

The spotlight on this case due to Vick's professional football career worked in the dogs' favor, however. People rose up in protest over the dogs' destruction. An agreement was struck: each dog would be individually evaluated to determine its chances of rehabilitation. If a dog showed promise, it would be allowed to live. After extensive testing, all but one of the Vick dogs was deemed fit for rehabilitation.

This book follows the story of Audie, a black pit bull puppy who was rescued from the Vick kennels. Audie turned out to be obedient, loving, and highly trainable. This is just the kind of story you want to see come out of a horrible situation like the Vick kennels.

I found it regrettable that the photos were not sharper. I understand from experience that fast-moving puppies are hard to capture clearly, and perhaps they were working backwards here, using existing photos rather than taking new ones, but the images just weren't as crisp and focused as they could have been. That's really the only negative I found in the book.

One thing I appreciated, however, is that the author did not refrain from speaking the truth of Michael Vick's involvement in dog-fighting and the abuse of the dogs. I honestly expected his involvement to be limited because of his status as a professional football player. I was pleased to see Patent was not deterred from telling the truth.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I returned from the ISTE Convention in Philadelphia, Vickie Cobb posted "We still believe that books, especially good books about the real world, are important for children. Visit: www.inkthinktank.com and sign up for our FREE database so that teachers can find out how award-winning nonfiction aligns with national standards. Check out INK Link: Authors on Call and see who is available to meet teachers and students via interactive videoconferencing. Subscribe to our blog Interesting Nonfiction for Kids where authors themselves share insights on how to present issues and content about the real world in ways to engage, inspire and inform kids on the subjects required by your curriculum. And ir you have any questions, please contact me: vicki@inkthinktank.com" and this led me to this pearl of a book! I am a dog lover, read the book,


and now Dorothy Hinshaw Patent has written a truly amazing book about one of the Vick dogs who was rescued and finally found his forever home! The photographs are breathtaking (especially the back cover, with Audie in pants--you have to read why!) and those involved in helping save these dogs, also save this puppy. Audie was lucky enough to find a permanent home, get surgery for bad knees and overcome his trust issues from being chained and kept isolated from important human and animal contact. This book will be enjoyed by our life skills students and I recommend it for all ages, especially if you are a dog lover!

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Vick, NFL quarterback, was running an illegal dog-fighting ring and raising “fighting dogs” at his appropriately named “Bad Newz Kennels.” When information about his crimes came to light, the dogs were seized, as evidence, and spent many months in isolation in an animal shelter. In the past, fighting dogs were considered dangerous and people thought they were not good prospects for rehabilitation. In the case of Vick’s dogs, however – probably because the case was so high profile and received a lot of media attention – animal rights groups and concerned citizens got involved and the dogs were eventually tested for temperament. Out of 49 dogs, only one was deemed unsafe. The rest were sent to live in foster homes and other shelters where they received obedience training and learned to live and interact with people and other animals.

Audie was one of the lucky dogs who found a foster home (and later a forever home) with some very patient and understanding people. His new owners thought he would be a good candidate for agility training and competition, and he was until they discovered he had knee problems. Audie needed surgery in order to correct his knees. After several months of rehabilitation, Audie was able to compete. This children’s picture book follows Audie through his rescue, touching lightly on the darker details of the dog-fighting underworld in a way that will impress upon young readers the seriousness of the situation without horrifying them. Beautiful photographs of Audie and some of the other rescued dogs add interest and engender empathy for the abuse and loneliness they suffered before getting a new leash on life.

[Cathy Blackler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many children are familiar with the downfall of NFL superstar Michael Vick, due to his involvement in dog fighting. But what happened to all of the dogs removed from Vick's "business?" Saving Audie chronicles the tale of one small puppy reintegrated into society by loving hands. The photographs by William Munoz, combined with Patent's straight forward text, answer lots of questions about Audie and other rescued dogs. Nice back matter including information on the rescue groups, the timeline of the Vick legal case, as well as a "further reading" page make this a great addition to a classroom library. It would be a nice resource if children were researching organizations in their community that help those in need.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and hopeful look at what became of one of the dogs taken into custody when the Michael Vick dog fighting ring was broken up. A great deal of training and love went into rehabilitating the dogs once given permission by the courts. The book shows it is, indeed, possible. And it did actually occur. Though pit bulls, or more affectionately known as “pitties” or “pibbles” have an undesirable reputation, they are truly affectionate and wonderful family pets.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wondered what happened to the Michael Vick dogs. Now I know. Love that most dogs had a happy ending. Love the story of Audie. Kudos to the BAD RAP group in the Bay Area of California. I definitely want to check out the blog: http://vickdogsblog.blogspot.com. I’m so glad Dorothy Hinshaw Patent wrote this book. The dogs’ stories need to be told.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this 5 stars for the cute dog photos. Audie looked so much like Ripley that I immediately checked out the book.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the right person to judge what age group this is appropriate for, you'll have to look at other reviews for that or use your own judgment, I'm not a parent or a teacher. But I can say that it's a really lovely book that I would recommend checking out. It very simply but sweetly tells the story of what happened to the dogs who were caught up in the Michael Vick dog fighting ring, and then focuses in on how a darling little boy got a new home and a new chance at life. It explains some things about the training he went through and about the challenges he faced. We see a few of the other dogs from the Vick ring as well as some other pit bulls who were helped by Audie's family's organization, BAD RAP. And there is good information in the back for older children who want to do more research, similar to what I've seen in other books with this format. The photos are wonderful. And maybe it will help a few people understand that it isn't the breed that the problem, it's the people. The most vicious dog I ever knew was a Lhasa apso, seriously terrifying. Every dog must have responsible people taking care of it, teaching it how we expect it to behave in our world. If a dog misbehaves it's always a person's fault. There are no bad breeds. There are just irresponsible people.

[Kelly Lozowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Audie is a book that could be used for low level middle school readers. I may also be capable of sparking a good discussion with this age group. Saving Audie is the tale of one of the Vick Dogs. The beginning of the book instantly pulls the reader in describing the puppy's horrible life at Bad Newz Kennels. The book goes on to touch briefly on the trial from Audie's stand point - what Audie was going through as the trial went on. Audie goes on to be adopted by a family involved with the BAD RAP Rescue Group - one of the groups responsible to getting all of the Vick dogs rescued and rehabilitated. Audie moved in and the family soon realized that she would need surgery to fix his knees (paid in full by the money the court ordered Vick to set aside for the dogs). After a long recovery Audie goes on to be a Agility dog and an ambassador for the breed.

This heartwarming story also give updates on a few other Vick dogs that Audie regularly hangs out with. This tear jerker, for any aminal lover, tells a wonderful tale of survival. It shines a bright light on the Pitbull breed - A MUST READ!!

A portion from every book bought will be donated to the BAD RAP Rescue Group.

[Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book tells the tale (no pun intended)of Audie. She was one of the 40 Pitbulls rescued from the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal. While Audie was no longer forced to fight, she still faced a battle. The one for her life.

Rescuing the dogs was just the beginning. Most of the dogs, like Audie, had severe emotional problems due to the horrid conditions that they faced. These dogs were scared of humans as well as other dogs. However, if the dogs cannot learn to trust the humans that rescued them, their lives may soon be ended as they will be deemed "unadoptable."

I read this book when I took my Therapy Dog to visit a local Kids' Club. The children were enthralled with Audie. They could not believe that someone would actually make dogs fight, let alone a famous football player. And they loved all of the beautiful pictures.

This book is a heartwarming read that is sure to be loved by children and adults of all ages.

[Pamela Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Audie by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photographs by William Munoz is the story of one puppy saved from the horror of the Michael Vick fighting ring.

The story is told through photographs that capture not only the fear and sorrow of the dogs taken from the raid, but also show the joy and exhuberance that the dogs were free to experience in their new surroundings once rehabilitated.

In The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant, the story of the raid and rescue of the Michael Vick dogs is told in all its horror. From the investigation to the rescue of the dogs, the story uncovers the brutality of dog fighting.



Continue reading on Examiner.com Saving Audie by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photographs by WIlliam Munoz - National Book | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/book-in-natio...

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the story of the rescue of the pit bull puppies and the difficulties surrounding the controversy in doing so. This book is on the consideration list for a third grade reading list. Great story, although I think difficult to discuss at a middle elementary level, where most kids may only know Michael Vick as an accomplished football player. Think the book could be awesome to spur great discussion, but at upper levels. The story, told through text, is also told graphically through some awesome photographs. While the story centers around Audie, one cannot avoid the subject of what the Vick dogs are and the role Michael Vick played. One major lesson that can be brought up is that Vick did pay for his crime, but I still feel younger kids, who are only familiar with him as a football player, will have a hard time connecting him to the greater ideas in the story.

[Melle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Dog #86, one of the "pieces of evidence" seized from NFL player Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels, who was rehabilitated and adopted and renamed as Audie. On its own, it's a heartbreaking story with a hopeful ending, not particularly well-told but honest and thoughtful. With the photographs, it is a stunning, moving reminder that there are people out there who view these animals' lives as disposable and that there are still more people out there who want to see these animals given loving, healthy homes. The photographs capture the dogs' personalities, especially Audie's sweet eyes and good nature and his person's love for him. It's not a book to read before you have to go somewhere or be with other people or be in a situation in which you are not sobbing uncontrollably. Brilliantly recommended by workmate Katie.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book after being introduced to it at Lakota Literacy in Franki's session. We previewed nonfiction books to use in the classroom. Megan and I are definitely beefing up our nonfiction library after hearing Franki speak! This book is a little difficult to read at the beginning, just because of the horrifying conditions the dogs were found in after Michael Vick's conviction. It features Audie's story of survival and a chance at a new life. I think kids would find it very compelling, and it's a must-have for animal lovers! There are lots of features that would be useful during nonfiction lessons.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happened to the dogs in Michael Vick's fighting ring? Saving Audie tells the story of one pit bull pup and how he was rehabilitated. This is a touching story that animal lovers will find moving and powerful. The writing is simple enough for students in grades 3 - 6 and carefully describes Audie's training and surgery. The writing could have been a bit better; some parts of the story sound a bit stiff and some ideas could have been more clearly described. Recommended for elementary school collections; middle schools may also want to include this title as a high interest title with a fairly low reading level.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Audie tells the story of a few of the dogs rescued when Michael Vick's dog fighting ring was discovered and disbanded in 2007. In the past fighting dogs were kept as evidence until the trial was over and then destroyed. Animal rights groups stepped in to prove that the dogs were savable. Patent describes the process through the story of a black pit bull puppy who eventually is given the name Audie. She includes information about the breeds that are considered to be pit bulls, talks about their history in the United States and includes a timeline of the Michael Vick Case along with a comprehensive bibliography.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a pit bull puppy from Bad Newz Kennels (ala Michael Vick) which was raided by the government. Like most of the Vick dogs, Audie was taken to a shelter and kept as evidence. Animal organizations such as BAD RAP, Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA got involved and the courts allowed the dogs to be tested to determine how safe they were to handle.

A friend of two BAD RAP members adopted one of the puppies and named him Audie. They socialized him and took him to obedience classes, where he ultimately obtained his Canine Good Citizen certificate.

Big, beautiful pictures, and a story with a wonderful ending that shows the resilience of pitties.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a picture book, this book would be more appropriate for grades 2 or 3 and up. Audie, one of the dogs rescued from a pit bull fighting ring, is rehabilitated and adopted by a loving family. The story chronicles his life in the animal shelter after being taken from the fighting ring, his reprieve from being put to sleep, his surgery to repair his knees, and his life with his people. Include a timeline of the events of Michael Vicks' criminal trial and resources for additional information on animal rescues. Beautiful photographs show loving and energetic dogs.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son has a pit bull/chocolate lab mix so I couldn't resist reading this book! Patent is at the top of her quality in this book and Munoz's photos are superb! This was a first in that until now, dogs taken from dog fight organizations were routinely put to sleep. The publicity and outcry was enough that this time they tested the dogs and found only one that likely couldn't be retrained to a better life. This one pulls at the heart strings but you are left ecstatic since Audie ends up in a loving home!

[Amber Polo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uplifting story of the rehabilitation of one of Michael Vick’s fighting dogs. This book for children has lots of information about dogs including, Canine Good Citizen, Agility, and obedience and how dogs learn to get along with other dogs and people. I especially appreciated Ms. Patent’s “Further Reading and Surfing” section with places for learning more about dogs, their care and training. Mr. Munoz’s photographs are bright and appealing, so realistic you can feel the puppy’s moist nose.
I was lucky enough to win a copy pawtographed by Audie

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale of a dog rescued from a life of pit fighting and terror is an effective example of narrative non-fiction. There are full color photographs to illustrate, and we see several of the rescued dogs throughout the book. Audie's story begins with his rescue, but his name is the same as the number on his cage, then through a fostering period his name is changed, but his final Forever Family gives him a name befitting his courage and willingness to keep going against many odds. I enjoyed this book for many reasons, and I expect it to be popular with many students in my school.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

the thing I loved most about this book (kid's book) is that it tells a different side of pit bulls and dogfighting issue.
People need to know that the Vick dogs were ALMOST all save-able and had lovely but hard lives after they were rescued. People also need to know that dogs DIE during dogfighting...not just get hurt (which is bad enough) or their owners kill them when they lose. This does not all need to be told to a child, maybe mention they get hurt, but kids will love the pictures in this book, too. Audie is wearing pants in one with his tail sticking out. Beyond cute!!!

[D'Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photos in this book are sometimes presented in an order that is confusing (like Audie is shown as a full grown dog, then there's a photo of a puppy that I think is supposed to be Audie even though I think Audie was rescued as an adult, and then Audie is full grown again). But I hope this book will help dispel the myth that pit bulls are violent and scary dogs. The dogs in this book are specifically the ones rescued from Michael Vick's Hellhole for Dogs Resort and I like that they call that prick out by name.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I checked this book out from the library thinking it was just another kids picture book based on one of the rescue dogs from Mike Vick's ring. I was wrong! It was a picture book (real pictures) but it had quite a bit of facts about the dog and how he got his second chance. I loved it! I thought I might cry reading about what the dogs went through. You hear about stuff that happens, but I don't think it actually hits ya until you read/hear about the small details. I'm glad these dogs got a second chance and wish more would! (Trust me, I would rescue them all if I could!!)

[Christiane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely non-fiction picture book suitable for young children about one of the Michael Vick's dog-fighting ring dogs who is successfully rehabilitated into a family pet. This book does a lot to dispel the myths about fighting dogs and pit bulls and is also just a great read for any animal lover. I brought this to my school visits this year and the kids really liked it...who doesn't like pictures of cute dogs?

[Jenilyn Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's another example of non-fiction that is geared towards children which I think is really important. It's about one of the dogs that was rescued from the Michael Vick dog fighting ring. It's a completely true story that is heart-breaking at times, but has a happy ending so I think kids would like it. My heart really reached out to the dog in this story, so I'm sure that children would feel that way too.

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read, but a great book for kids wanting to learn about the Michael Vick pit bulls and how they were rescued and given a second chance. After reading "The Lost Dogs" this book showed me what happened to one of the dogs that was mentioned in the book. I remember Dutch - now Audie - and it was nice to see pictures of him in his new life.

This book is being used as part of a research project my students have created for their nonfiction section of the class.

[Arthur Pengerbil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Level: Ages 4 - 10

In 2007 Michael Vick's horrific dog fighting kennel was discovered and broken up. The dogs were all taken as "evidence" and held for six months when they were released for rehab and rehoming. This inspiring book follows the story of #86 from his rescue, through his rehab by BAD RAP, to his current life.



For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.