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DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption
Now in paperback, this companion to the hit National Geographic Channel show, DogTown, tells the moving stories of homeless dogs and their caretakers at the Best Friends Animal Society, evoking both the joy and the occasional, but inevitable, heartbreak that accompanies the important work of saving homeless dogs.
Focusing both on the relationships between dogs and people and on the latest discoveries in animal health and behavior, the book features 12 of DogTown's most memorable cases. Each chapter follows one dog —often considered unadoptable by other shelters —from the first days at DogTown, through assessment and treatment, to the whether the dog finds a "forever home" outside the shelter. Photographs of each dog trace its entire journey and chart its progress from beginning to end. DogTown's veterinarians, trainers, and experts who are featured on the show contribute essays on their most meaningful moments in working with animals.
Focusing both on the relationships between dogs and people and on the latest discoveries in animal health and behavior, the book features 12 of DogTown's most memorable cases. Each chapter follows one dog —often considered unadoptable by other shelters —from the first days at DogTown, through assessment and treatment, to the whether the dog finds a "forever home" outside the shelter. Photographs of each dog trace its entire journey and chart its progress from beginning to end. DogTown's veterinarians, trainers, and experts who are featured on the show contribute essays on their most meaningful moments in working with animals.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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1909 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 26, 2016
I want ALL THE DOGS. That is all.
February 28, 2010
This book is based on Dogtown, the dog sanctuary part of Best Friends Animal Society (www.BestFriends.org) and on the National Geographic specials about Dogtown, where every dog is given the best life possible, whether able to be placed with a family or not.
The book is divided into chapters, each about a special dog and about the people who care for them. Included are great black and white photos of the dogs and those who care for them. The hardest chapter for me to read was the first, about a pit bull named Georgia who is one of the dogs confiscated after Michael Vick was busted for dog fighting. I read it with alternate sorrow for the dogs involved and anger and a tightly clenched jaw that Vick and his felonious cohorts so abused dogs for their selfish, sadistic, greedy purposes, and that dog fighting is still going on every day. (I guess it is pretty clear where I stand on the Vick case. I've had to edit this twice before posting to take out some of my editorializing. But back to the book.)
Although the dogs that ended up at Dogtown were (and are) given wonderful treatment and kindness, often rehabilitated and able to be placed with families, the stories of how they came to Dogtown are so heartbreaking. Although this is an upbeat book with emphasis on happy endings, the beginnings cannot be ignored. Despite that, it is wonderful to read how formerly abused or injured or fear-aggressive or just plain unwanted and sad dogs can find joy in their everyday lives. I gave this book four stars not because it is extremely well written because it is not although it is competently and touchingly written. I've given it four stars because I think animal lovers everywhere will be glad they read it, as I am, and will cheer the spirit of these dogs and the people who devote their lives to them.
The book is divided into chapters, each about a special dog and about the people who care for them. Included are great black and white photos of the dogs and those who care for them. The hardest chapter for me to read was the first, about a pit bull named Georgia who is one of the dogs confiscated after Michael Vick was busted for dog fighting. I read it with alternate sorrow for the dogs involved and anger and a tightly clenched jaw that Vick and his felonious cohorts so abused dogs for their selfish, sadistic, greedy purposes, and that dog fighting is still going on every day. (I guess it is pretty clear where I stand on the Vick case. I've had to edit this twice before posting to take out some of my editorializing. But back to the book.)
Although the dogs that ended up at Dogtown were (and are) given wonderful treatment and kindness, often rehabilitated and able to be placed with families, the stories of how they came to Dogtown are so heartbreaking. Although this is an upbeat book with emphasis on happy endings, the beginnings cannot be ignored. Despite that, it is wonderful to read how formerly abused or injured or fear-aggressive or just plain unwanted and sad dogs can find joy in their everyday lives. I gave this book four stars not because it is extremely well written because it is not although it is competently and touchingly written. I've given it four stars because I think animal lovers everywhere will be glad they read it, as I am, and will cheer the spirit of these dogs and the people who devote their lives to them.
May 11, 2024
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed reading a chapter or two every night to wind down.
September 21, 2009
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 does 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.
I also found this educational. There are bits by Pat Whitacre that offered me great insight on training does 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.
September 30, 2009
"DogTown" is the nickname of the canine section of Best Friends Animal Shelter in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends provides rehabilitation and training in hopes of finding adoptive homes for its residents -- but if that proves impossible, the animals are given a "forever home" on the ranch.
Bechtel shares stories of several DogTown residents, from two of the Vick pit bulls to a dog whose elderly guardians passed away to a dog who lived at the facility for 13 years before getting his own family. He also includes the stories of some of the Best Friends staff of dog trainers, groomers and veterinarians.
Each story carries the same lesson: everyone deserves a chance to be loved. The challenges (financial, emotional and physical) for the Best Friends team and their residents are large, and yet they accomplish a great deal.
This is a book that will make animal lovers laugh and cry with delight. Not to be missed.
Bechtel shares stories of several DogTown residents, from two of the Vick pit bulls to a dog whose elderly guardians passed away to a dog who lived at the facility for 13 years before getting his own family. He also includes the stories of some of the Best Friends staff of dog trainers, groomers and veterinarians.
Each story carries the same lesson: everyone deserves a chance to be loved. The challenges (financial, emotional and physical) for the Best Friends team and their residents are large, and yet they accomplish a great deal.
This is a book that will make animal lovers laugh and cry with delight. Not to be missed.
September 17, 2010
I loved this book. It was about each dog and their story of how they came to a dog rescue center in Utah. It made me want to just up and move to Utah and work there with dogs!
June 17, 2014
This book is an ad for Best Friends Animal Society. It's a collection of sappy stories with very little veterinary or ethological information. Its episodic organization leads to a lot of repetition. Every chapter has at least one plug for Best Friends and a lot of space is devoted to patting staff and volunteers on the back for their selfless devotion to these animals. The descriptions are relentlessly sentimental and the dogs are anthropomorphized to the point of caricature. For instance, in one story a staffer makes a "deal" with a bitch that is rejecting a sick puppy: "As we talked, I promised her that if she would allow Miles time with her and with his siblings, I would care for him for life" (111). I get that the "conversation" she describes is metaphorical, but that is such a strange way to put it. However, the prize for the oddest description goes to the tale of Annie the Aussie. Undersocialized dog bites an infant and the author likens this to "a nerd who hits people" (97).
I also found it amusing that positive training methods were described in a such a way as to imply that Best Friends came up with these techniques. There was no mention of the scientific research that has gone into developing these methods, no references to any respected trainers that I recall, except a mention of Ian Dunbar when they talk about the severity of dog bites. The training methods are always introduced like: "Sally thought rewarding the behaviors she wanted would work better than punishing Barky for barking." ORLY?! How groundbreaking. :P
I am well aware that I'm being completely biased here. I think I'm just grumpy that there wasn't more medical info. I knew Dogtown dealt with a lot of really sick dogs and I was hoping for some medical mysteries and other strange cases. I guess I was sort of under the impression that the veterinary care Best Friends provides is done with an eye towards research and developing new veterinary techniques, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Even the dogs that had semi-interesting problems had most of their medical issues glossed over so the author could gush about how sweet and courageous the "little guy" was and how angelic the staffers were for helping him when no one else would, etc and so on.
TL;DR: If you like heartwarming stories of shelter rejects, you might get some enjoyment out of this book. But don't expect much useful or interesting information.
I also found it amusing that positive training methods were described in a such a way as to imply that Best Friends came up with these techniques. There was no mention of the scientific research that has gone into developing these methods, no references to any respected trainers that I recall, except a mention of Ian Dunbar when they talk about the severity of dog bites. The training methods are always introduced like: "Sally thought rewarding the behaviors she wanted would work better than punishing Barky for barking." ORLY?! How groundbreaking. :P
I am well aware that I'm being completely biased here. I think I'm just grumpy that there wasn't more medical info. I knew Dogtown dealt with a lot of really sick dogs and I was hoping for some medical mysteries and other strange cases. I guess I was sort of under the impression that the veterinary care Best Friends provides is done with an eye towards research and developing new veterinary techniques, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Even the dogs that had semi-interesting problems had most of their medical issues glossed over so the author could gush about how sweet and courageous the "little guy" was and how angelic the staffers were for helping him when no one else would, etc and so on.
TL;DR: If you like heartwarming stories of shelter rejects, you might get some enjoyment out of this book. But don't expect much useful or interesting information.
March 8, 2013
This book has a lot of interesting stories in it, and it's interesting to read about how things work at the best friends shelter. Sad to read about what some of the animals there have gone through, though, especially considering how many others are out there looking for homes and stuff.
I'd probably have given it a higher rating, but for some reason the style of writing just didn't really draw me in. It's still a book I'd recommend, though, especially for animal lovers.
I'd probably have given it a higher rating, but for some reason the style of writing just didn't really draw me in. It's still a book I'd recommend, though, especially for animal lovers.
October 6, 2015
I really admire people who rescue animals. The awful scenerios they see in rescue is so alarming. However the joys of finding these dogs homes joyful. This book was a perfect blend of dog rescue and mini biographies of the people that work at Dogtown. I am so glad that I read it.
February 28, 2018
DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption by Stefan Bechtel is a book of short stories. The book focuses on a bunch of different dogs and their journey to recovery. My favorite story in the book is the story about Michael Vicks dog fighting dog Georgia. The book was very moving. I love dogs so reading this book really touched my heart. It made me so happy hear that there are people in this world that want to help animals I would recommend this book to everyone that loves animals." when you rescue a dog from a shelter you are saving 2 dog's life, the dog you are adopting and the dog that is taking its place."
February 5, 2020
I haven't seen the show, but I have been to the sanctuary a couple of times and this book is a great depiction of it. It made me cry several times, so keep tissues handy! So many heartbreaking turned heartwarming stories!
May 3, 2016
I’ve watched the DogTown tv show quite a few times, and as a rescuer it is wonderful seeing a real rescue dedicated to helping animals get a show. I believe this show is no longer on, but when I came across their book on Goodreads I immediately knew I would have to read it.
It’s pretty much exactly what you would expect: a collection of stories about rescued dogs making their way to better lives, and if these stories don’t convince you to rescue your next pet I don’t know what will.
If you don’t know much about rescue animals this would be the perfect thing to pick up. There is tons of great info about different types of situations you may not know much about. We see many dogs from many walks of life featured throughout; from puppy mill dogs to dog fighting dogs to “aggressive” dogs.
The writing style is very journalistic, and no surprise, the author writes for newspapers usually. I will say I found the writing style a bit odd and some weird descriptions I would have to raise an eyebrow at, which is why I knocked off a star.
If you’re curious about the rescue world I would totally recommend this book! Some of the stories will break your heart, but everyone should have to hear about these types of stories. Awareness is the key to making a difference!
It’s pretty much exactly what you would expect: a collection of stories about rescued dogs making their way to better lives, and if these stories don’t convince you to rescue your next pet I don’t know what will.
If you don’t know much about rescue animals this would be the perfect thing to pick up. There is tons of great info about different types of situations you may not know much about. We see many dogs from many walks of life featured throughout; from puppy mill dogs to dog fighting dogs to “aggressive” dogs.
The writing style is very journalistic, and no surprise, the author writes for newspapers usually. I will say I found the writing style a bit odd and some weird descriptions I would have to raise an eyebrow at, which is why I knocked off a star.
If you’re curious about the rescue world I would totally recommend this book! Some of the stories will break your heart, but everyone should have to hear about these types of stories. Awareness is the key to making a difference!
February 4, 2010
My mom convinced me to read this as she kept thinking of our sweet, yet neurotic Millie (a rescue). I really did enjoy it. Dogtown is a remarkable place that rescues can live forever if no homes can be found or if they aren't considered adoptable. I'd love to visit it someday and it surely reinforced my desire to only have rescue dogs. Did give me some thoughts on our dog too, though I would have liked some other ideas on approaching the issue of her very frequent nightmares.
I did find the book slightly repetitious in a few places and wonder if some of it was written as separate pieces that were then compiled into a book, however I wouldn't let that stop anyone from reading it. It was heartwarming to read about a couple of Michael Vick's former dogs. Tough to read about what they endured but kept thankfully short and well worth hearing how far thees amazing dogs have come. I only got tearful in one part about Mister Bones (not one of Vick's), but they were good tears about the life he got to lead.
I did find the book slightly repetitious in a few places and wonder if some of it was written as separate pieces that were then compiled into a book, however I wouldn't let that stop anyone from reading it. It was heartwarming to read about a couple of Michael Vick's former dogs. Tough to read about what they endured but kept thankfully short and well worth hearing how far thees amazing dogs have come. I only got tearful in one part about Mister Bones (not one of Vick's), but they were good tears about the life he got to lead.
March 22, 2020
I remember watching Dogtown. "Dogtown is the section of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary where homeless dogs live, and it is also a highly popular TV series. For four seasons, the television program "DogTown" aired on the National Geographic Channel. The documentary aired for the first time on January 4, 2008, and last aired an original episode on March 12, 2010."
This book was written so some of the proceeds could help support the Best Friends Animal Society.
The book is a collection of short stories about dogs that were rescued. Some come from horrific situations like dog fighting ring and puppy mills and some were just found. Some of the stories are hard to read but necessary to tell so you can see what the dog has gone through in order to appreciate the rehabilitation and redemption part of the tale even more. I enjoyed what few pictures there were but would have like more, especially one of the Sanctuary itself.
This book was written so some of the proceeds could help support the Best Friends Animal Society.
The book is a collection of short stories about dogs that were rescued. Some come from horrific situations like dog fighting ring and puppy mills and some were just found. Some of the stories are hard to read but necessary to tell so you can see what the dog has gone through in order to appreciate the rehabilitation and redemption part of the tale even more. I enjoyed what few pictures there were but would have like more, especially one of the Sanctuary itself.
June 8, 2011
If you only read one book in your life, this is the one! It made me want to cry at times, but it also filled me with joy! It is nice to know there are others out there like myself who are striving to help animals as much as possible!
August 15, 2013
I loved this book...probably mainly because I love dogs and love reading stories of dog rehabilitation (and the training that is involved). Spurs me on to keep working with my own dogs and makes me dream of getting more involved in this type of work.
December 17, 2014
Most of the major issues affecting man’s best friend are addressed in Stefan Bechtel‘s Dogtown, through the stories of individual canines residing at the world famous animal sanctuary Best Friends.
One of the dogs profiled is Parker, a mistreated dachshund who was rescued from a massive puppy mill in my backyard of Parkersburg, WV. Like many puppy mills, the Internet was a godsend for “Whispering Oaks Kennels.” The owners could present the mill as a quaint country farm, and ship puppies across the country to online buyers who would never see anything untoward about the condition of their kennel. Only one easily-missed hint that all wasn’t well appeared on the website:
The site mentioned, in passing, that although visitors were welcome, they were not allowed into the kennel where adult breeding dogs were kept.
(Puppy buyers, take heed: A real, professional breeder is proud of his/her operation and will not hesitate to allow you to meet your pup’s parents.) And why were visitors barred from viewing the kennels at Whispering Oaks?
Nearly a thousand dogs were confined in an assortment of small cages. In some cases, four or five dogs lived in one two-by-three-square-foot cage.
When this disaster area was discovered by police:
The owner was not charged with animal cruelty or neglect; she agreed to downsize the operation and voluntarily surrendered more than 900 dogs.
Ah, West Virginia law.
One of these dogs was Parker, a former breeding dog whose teeth and jaw were infected and deformed from the neglect he had endured.
The paperwork on his cage explained that he had been found living in a tiny rabbit hutch with three other dogs, a place he had probably rarely left since puppyhood.
Best Friends has accepted numerous former puppy mill animals over the years, and they’ve come to see a pattern in the kinds of problems they face:
Bad teeth are a problem typical of many breeding dogs in puppy mills. Dental work is generally considered an unnecessary frill and a potential threat to the bottom line. Problems of neglect, like bad teeth, matted fur, overgrown nails, and eye and ear infections, are allowed to fester, causing pain and greater suffering for the dogs.
This isn’t to mention the genetic problems caused by bad breeding practices or the psychological damage caused to a dog who has lived for years in a cage barely larger than her own body. By the way, the book also mentions that
Puppy mills produce an estimated four million dogs for sale each year in the United States.
…which is almost exactly the same number of dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters yearly.
Puppy mills have been a part of humane community consciousness for at least the past sixty years. Another longtime animal welfare concern is the leghold trap, which is mentioned briefly in the story of an injured golden retriever:
Ava came to Dogtown after being found in the desert with her paw caught in a coyote trap. … [I]t was obvious that her injuries were serious.
Although Bechtel takes no position on the use of leghold traps, his description of Ava’s suffering and recovery should impress upon some readers what animals—including dogs and their physiologically identical wild cousins—endure when caught at in these devices.
Dogtown is a generally good, if breezy, read that offers mostly solid information to readers—that is, until Bechtel turns to the issue of pit bulls. Best Friends is perhaps most famous for taking in numerous fighting dogs rescued from the raid on Michael Vick’s illegal enterprise. While this gives them a front-row seat to the unique challenges involved with dogs from this background, the book unfortunately just repeats the astonishingly consistent “talking points” proffered by pit bull advocates everywhere. They’re nice little blurbs, but sadly, many just don’t hold up to scrutiny and are demonstrably false.
These dogs are very strong, very intelligent, and very loyal; this loyalty and their desire to please their masters has made them the current favorite of illegal dogfighting operations.
Pit bulls, Staffordshire bull terriers, and their close relations have always been the favorite of dogfighters in the Western world. The “bull” in their name hints at their original work attacking and gripping bulls, first in assistance of butchers, later in the popular “sport” of bull-baiting. When bull-baiting was outlawed and fell out of favor, that’s when the fights began pitting the dogs against each other. The fighters have bred the dogs over hundreds of generations to refine them for the “sport.”
In three different sections, Bechtel also repeats the common argument that pit bulls were once popular family pets.
Pit bulls…are so sweet and affectionate with humans that at the turn of the century they were widely considered to be ideal dogs for families, including those with small children. … Pit bulls’ reputation as the bad boys of the dog world is largely a modern occurrence.
…
In the first half of the 20th century, pit bulls—like Pete the Pup from the Our Gang movie series—were considered ideal family pets.
…
The reputation of pit bulls in the past 20 years has taken a hit.
In reality, pit bulls were never extremely popular as family pets in the first part of the 20th century, as searches of archived newspaper advertisements for dogs and puppies for sale confirm. The dogs were in fact relatively rare until the 1970s, when members of the breed began leaking out of the clandestine would of dogfighters and “gamedog” breeders into the general pet and shelter populations.
“Petey” was indeed a pit bull, and he was just a step away from the ugly world that created his breed. Less acknowledged is the fact that Petey’s father, Tudor’s Black Jack, was a champion fighting dog owned by an infamous dogfighter. A Google image search turns up several photos of this dog in action, some of which are disturbing.
As for the supposed nickname for pit bulls as “nanny dog,” the evidence simply isn’t there. The earliest known reference of a pit bull as a “nursemaid dog” comes from the 1970s, from a pit bull advocate who was trying to promote a more positive image of the breed.
Once adored and trusted companion animals, pit bulls are now believed by many to be terrifying “superpredators” bred for ferocity and aggression and unfit for human society.
Now, whether pit bulls are “superpredators” and “unfit for human society” are obviously emotionally-charged opinions up for debate. However, the fact that pit bulls and their close relations have been bred for hundreds of years to do a specific task—fight other animals—mustn’t be ignored. There is a reason that retrievers love carrying things in their mouths and scent hounds follow their noses, even though the vast majority of these animals are now suburban pets, not hunting companions. Responsible pit bull ownership groups are frank about the fact that many pit bulls have a high prey drive and most will eventually develop some degree of dog aggression. These dogs aren’t for everyone, and potential owners must be adequately prepared and informed about breed traits and history—and breed traits aren’t something that can be loved out of an animal.
Ironically, the author himself unwittingly confirms this when discussing the crimes of Michael Vick and other dogfighters:
Nonperforming or unaggressive dogs had apparently been hanged, drowned, electrocuted, shot, or slammed into the ground until dead. … The “culling” of nonaggressive animals is a kind of sadistic Darwinism, meant to select only traits that lead to savage victory in the dog pit.
After all of that, Bechtel still wasn’t through.
[E]very age seems to have a “villain” dog—and at this particular moment in history, pit bulls are it. In the late 1880s, bloodhounds were said to be vicious and bloodthirsty…Later it was bulldogs, then German shepherds and Doberman pinschers—especially after World War II, when they became associated with Nazis.
The bloodhound story is misleading. The large, aggressive “bloodhound” once used to terrorize slaves and prisoners was an animal called the Cuban bloodhound, a hunting/fighting breed similar to the presa canario. No one would mistake the Cuban for the droopy-faced English bloodhound. “Bulldog” , as the author himself earlier notes, was the early term for pit bulls and their close relations. And while the “macho dog” and “guard dog” of choice has changed over the years, there’s no evidence that German shepherds and Dobermans were ever bred in large scale for dogfighting purposes, as the pit bull was and is.
One of the most prominent untruths is that pit bulls have a unique jaw structure that allows them to “lock” onto their victims.
While dogs aren’t machines and no dog has a truly “locking” jaw, it is true that “bully” breeds have a unique biting style honed in their early days battling large animals. Their bite style is to bite, grip, and shake. The tenacious manner in which they can hang on can make it very difficult for an untrained person, even an adult, to break a pit bull’s grip. Responsible pit bull ownership groups recommend that owners carry something called a “break stick,” which is used to pry open a pit bull’s jaws if he should happen to bite another dog.
[P]it bulls are involved in a fairly large number of attacks primarily because there are so many pit bulls—a kind of statistical fluke suggesting that they are more dangerous than they really are.
Available data indicates that pit bulls represent less than 5% of the total U.S. pet dog population. However, they make up about 60% of the dogs involved in fatal bite incidents. While most pit bulls will never harm a human being, their gripping bite style means that when they do, they have the potential to cause great damage. When a shih tzu has a bad day, it might require an outpatient visit to the emergency room for stitches. When a large fighting breed has a bad day, it might involve a LifeFlight helicopter. (Of note in this book is that when two serious dog attacks on a Best Friends staffer are mentioned, the breed of the dog involved is not described.)
According to the American Temperament Society website, pit bulls consistently score above average on the American Temperament Test for all dog breeds tested.
The “Truth About Pitbulls” blog offers a highly detailed response The ATTS test was initially intended to test working dogs for jobs such as police work. The test favors bold dogs, dogs that need to face danger head on without hesitation and fear. Courage was desired and rewarded, timidity was not. The ATTS favors dogs like pit bulls over dogs like collies. It is important to note, the test does not evaluate dogs for "pet" suitability.
But back to the Vick dogs specifically. Paul Berry of Best Friends is quoted in the text:
“[W]e’re quite confident that by recovering their trust and teaching them life skills, many can be adoptable, given the right home environment.”
It is unfortunate news that this has not come to pass, with most of the dogs given to Best Friends remaining in the sanctuary. While long-term or life housing is something Best Friends is equipped for, most city and county shelters which receive fight bust dogs will not be able to consider this option. Recently, another unforeseen hurdle in the Vick dogs’ story occurred when Tug, a “Vicktory” pit bull, tore through at least two fences on Best Friends property to attack two other pit bulls, killing the first and injuring the second.
A sizeable portion of the chapter featuring Vicktory dog Merle is devoted to arguing against breed-specific legislation, or BSL. BSL puts restrictions on certain breeds of dogs and pit bulls are almost always a target of such legislation. However, BSL differs in extremity depending upon the region. It is understandable that a group such as Best Friends would oppose BSL that bars anyone from keeping a pit bull and demands that all pit bull-type dogs entering shelters be euthanized. However, there are also less-extreme versions that allow pit bulls as pets but requires their owners to maintain fenced pens or have their pets altered.
Despite the objections of Best Friends and pit bull advocates, the tide of BSL is showing no signs of stopping. It would seem that one of the ways Best Friends can fight BSL, and the tragedies that often drive it, is to be completely honest with potential owners of pit bulls and related breeds. Owners should be informed about the breed’s history and traits, as well as the history of the individual animal being adopted. If owners are adequately prepared, it might cut down on the number of dog bites as well as attacks on other animals. It appears, however, that at least in the book Dogtown, Best Friends is not doing this, instead choosing to repeat a bunch of moldy soundbites, some of which are misleading.
One of the dogs profiled is Parker, a mistreated dachshund who was rescued from a massive puppy mill in my backyard of Parkersburg, WV. Like many puppy mills, the Internet was a godsend for “Whispering Oaks Kennels.” The owners could present the mill as a quaint country farm, and ship puppies across the country to online buyers who would never see anything untoward about the condition of their kennel. Only one easily-missed hint that all wasn’t well appeared on the website:
The site mentioned, in passing, that although visitors were welcome, they were not allowed into the kennel where adult breeding dogs were kept.
(Puppy buyers, take heed: A real, professional breeder is proud of his/her operation and will not hesitate to allow you to meet your pup’s parents.) And why were visitors barred from viewing the kennels at Whispering Oaks?
Nearly a thousand dogs were confined in an assortment of small cages. In some cases, four or five dogs lived in one two-by-three-square-foot cage.
When this disaster area was discovered by police:
The owner was not charged with animal cruelty or neglect; she agreed to downsize the operation and voluntarily surrendered more than 900 dogs.
Ah, West Virginia law.
One of these dogs was Parker, a former breeding dog whose teeth and jaw were infected and deformed from the neglect he had endured.
The paperwork on his cage explained that he had been found living in a tiny rabbit hutch with three other dogs, a place he had probably rarely left since puppyhood.
Best Friends has accepted numerous former puppy mill animals over the years, and they’ve come to see a pattern in the kinds of problems they face:
Bad teeth are a problem typical of many breeding dogs in puppy mills. Dental work is generally considered an unnecessary frill and a potential threat to the bottom line. Problems of neglect, like bad teeth, matted fur, overgrown nails, and eye and ear infections, are allowed to fester, causing pain and greater suffering for the dogs.
This isn’t to mention the genetic problems caused by bad breeding practices or the psychological damage caused to a dog who has lived for years in a cage barely larger than her own body. By the way, the book also mentions that
Puppy mills produce an estimated four million dogs for sale each year in the United States.
…which is almost exactly the same number of dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters yearly.
Puppy mills have been a part of humane community consciousness for at least the past sixty years. Another longtime animal welfare concern is the leghold trap, which is mentioned briefly in the story of an injured golden retriever:
Ava came to Dogtown after being found in the desert with her paw caught in a coyote trap. … [I]t was obvious that her injuries were serious.
Although Bechtel takes no position on the use of leghold traps, his description of Ava’s suffering and recovery should impress upon some readers what animals—including dogs and their physiologically identical wild cousins—endure when caught at in these devices.
Dogtown is a generally good, if breezy, read that offers mostly solid information to readers—that is, until Bechtel turns to the issue of pit bulls. Best Friends is perhaps most famous for taking in numerous fighting dogs rescued from the raid on Michael Vick’s illegal enterprise. While this gives them a front-row seat to the unique challenges involved with dogs from this background, the book unfortunately just repeats the astonishingly consistent “talking points” proffered by pit bull advocates everywhere. They’re nice little blurbs, but sadly, many just don’t hold up to scrutiny and are demonstrably false.
These dogs are very strong, very intelligent, and very loyal; this loyalty and their desire to please their masters has made them the current favorite of illegal dogfighting operations.
Pit bulls, Staffordshire bull terriers, and their close relations have always been the favorite of dogfighters in the Western world. The “bull” in their name hints at their original work attacking and gripping bulls, first in assistance of butchers, later in the popular “sport” of bull-baiting. When bull-baiting was outlawed and fell out of favor, that’s when the fights began pitting the dogs against each other. The fighters have bred the dogs over hundreds of generations to refine them for the “sport.”
In three different sections, Bechtel also repeats the common argument that pit bulls were once popular family pets.
Pit bulls…are so sweet and affectionate with humans that at the turn of the century they were widely considered to be ideal dogs for families, including those with small children. … Pit bulls’ reputation as the bad boys of the dog world is largely a modern occurrence.
…
In the first half of the 20th century, pit bulls—like Pete the Pup from the Our Gang movie series—were considered ideal family pets.
…
The reputation of pit bulls in the past 20 years has taken a hit.
In reality, pit bulls were never extremely popular as family pets in the first part of the 20th century, as searches of archived newspaper advertisements for dogs and puppies for sale confirm. The dogs were in fact relatively rare until the 1970s, when members of the breed began leaking out of the clandestine would of dogfighters and “gamedog” breeders into the general pet and shelter populations.
“Petey” was indeed a pit bull, and he was just a step away from the ugly world that created his breed. Less acknowledged is the fact that Petey’s father, Tudor’s Black Jack, was a champion fighting dog owned by an infamous dogfighter. A Google image search turns up several photos of this dog in action, some of which are disturbing.
As for the supposed nickname for pit bulls as “nanny dog,” the evidence simply isn’t there. The earliest known reference of a pit bull as a “nursemaid dog” comes from the 1970s, from a pit bull advocate who was trying to promote a more positive image of the breed.
Once adored and trusted companion animals, pit bulls are now believed by many to be terrifying “superpredators” bred for ferocity and aggression and unfit for human society.
Now, whether pit bulls are “superpredators” and “unfit for human society” are obviously emotionally-charged opinions up for debate. However, the fact that pit bulls and their close relations have been bred for hundreds of years to do a specific task—fight other animals—mustn’t be ignored. There is a reason that retrievers love carrying things in their mouths and scent hounds follow their noses, even though the vast majority of these animals are now suburban pets, not hunting companions. Responsible pit bull ownership groups are frank about the fact that many pit bulls have a high prey drive and most will eventually develop some degree of dog aggression. These dogs aren’t for everyone, and potential owners must be adequately prepared and informed about breed traits and history—and breed traits aren’t something that can be loved out of an animal.
Ironically, the author himself unwittingly confirms this when discussing the crimes of Michael Vick and other dogfighters:
Nonperforming or unaggressive dogs had apparently been hanged, drowned, electrocuted, shot, or slammed into the ground until dead. … The “culling” of nonaggressive animals is a kind of sadistic Darwinism, meant to select only traits that lead to savage victory in the dog pit.
After all of that, Bechtel still wasn’t through.
[E]very age seems to have a “villain” dog—and at this particular moment in history, pit bulls are it. In the late 1880s, bloodhounds were said to be vicious and bloodthirsty…Later it was bulldogs, then German shepherds and Doberman pinschers—especially after World War II, when they became associated with Nazis.
The bloodhound story is misleading. The large, aggressive “bloodhound” once used to terrorize slaves and prisoners was an animal called the Cuban bloodhound, a hunting/fighting breed similar to the presa canario. No one would mistake the Cuban for the droopy-faced English bloodhound. “Bulldog” , as the author himself earlier notes, was the early term for pit bulls and their close relations. And while the “macho dog” and “guard dog” of choice has changed over the years, there’s no evidence that German shepherds and Dobermans were ever bred in large scale for dogfighting purposes, as the pit bull was and is.
One of the most prominent untruths is that pit bulls have a unique jaw structure that allows them to “lock” onto their victims.
While dogs aren’t machines and no dog has a truly “locking” jaw, it is true that “bully” breeds have a unique biting style honed in their early days battling large animals. Their bite style is to bite, grip, and shake. The tenacious manner in which they can hang on can make it very difficult for an untrained person, even an adult, to break a pit bull’s grip. Responsible pit bull ownership groups recommend that owners carry something called a “break stick,” which is used to pry open a pit bull’s jaws if he should happen to bite another dog.
[P]it bulls are involved in a fairly large number of attacks primarily because there are so many pit bulls—a kind of statistical fluke suggesting that they are more dangerous than they really are.
Available data indicates that pit bulls represent less than 5% of the total U.S. pet dog population. However, they make up about 60% of the dogs involved in fatal bite incidents. While most pit bulls will never harm a human being, their gripping bite style means that when they do, they have the potential to cause great damage. When a shih tzu has a bad day, it might require an outpatient visit to the emergency room for stitches. When a large fighting breed has a bad day, it might involve a LifeFlight helicopter. (Of note in this book is that when two serious dog attacks on a Best Friends staffer are mentioned, the breed of the dog involved is not described.)
According to the American Temperament Society website, pit bulls consistently score above average on the American Temperament Test for all dog breeds tested.
The “Truth About Pitbulls” blog offers a highly detailed response The ATTS test was initially intended to test working dogs for jobs such as police work. The test favors bold dogs, dogs that need to face danger head on without hesitation and fear. Courage was desired and rewarded, timidity was not. The ATTS favors dogs like pit bulls over dogs like collies. It is important to note, the test does not evaluate dogs for "pet" suitability.
But back to the Vick dogs specifically. Paul Berry of Best Friends is quoted in the text:
“[W]e’re quite confident that by recovering their trust and teaching them life skills, many can be adoptable, given the right home environment.”
It is unfortunate news that this has not come to pass, with most of the dogs given to Best Friends remaining in the sanctuary. While long-term or life housing is something Best Friends is equipped for, most city and county shelters which receive fight bust dogs will not be able to consider this option. Recently, another unforeseen hurdle in the Vick dogs’ story occurred when Tug, a “Vicktory” pit bull, tore through at least two fences on Best Friends property to attack two other pit bulls, killing the first and injuring the second.
A sizeable portion of the chapter featuring Vicktory dog Merle is devoted to arguing against breed-specific legislation, or BSL. BSL puts restrictions on certain breeds of dogs and pit bulls are almost always a target of such legislation. However, BSL differs in extremity depending upon the region. It is understandable that a group such as Best Friends would oppose BSL that bars anyone from keeping a pit bull and demands that all pit bull-type dogs entering shelters be euthanized. However, there are also less-extreme versions that allow pit bulls as pets but requires their owners to maintain fenced pens or have their pets altered.
Despite the objections of Best Friends and pit bull advocates, the tide of BSL is showing no signs of stopping. It would seem that one of the ways Best Friends can fight BSL, and the tragedies that often drive it, is to be completely honest with potential owners of pit bulls and related breeds. Owners should be informed about the breed’s history and traits, as well as the history of the individual animal being adopted. If owners are adequately prepared, it might cut down on the number of dog bites as well as attacks on other animals. It appears, however, that at least in the book Dogtown, Best Friends is not doing this, instead choosing to repeat a bunch of moldy soundbites, some of which are misleading.
October 7, 2022
I was not familiar with the TV show DogTown, not having cable and therefore not having the National Geographic channel, but of course the title of the book and the dog on the cover caught my eye. I follow so many rescue organizations on FB, and dogs are my spirit animal. So I was excited to dive into this book, and it did not disappoint.
Each chapter is focused on one or two specific dogs, almost all of them having come to Dogtown from a bad situation – hoarding, puppy mills, even a couple of the Vicktory Dogs, as the pitties involved in Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation came to be called. But one dog’s story especially touched me. Knightly had lived his whole life in a safe loving home as part of the family, but his owners were elderly and eventually were unable to take care of themselves, much less Knightly. Long story short, Knightly found himself at Dogtown, where he was bewildered, anxious, and depressed. I could easily picture him, lost in his new world, and my heart just ached. I’m actually tearing up right now, just writing about him. My last dog experienced a similar situation, finding his way to me after his owner passed away. Unlike Knightly, he was unsocialized, having been around pretty much nobody but his one owner for six years. But like Knightly, he was bewildered and anxious. It took several weeks for me to gain his trust, for him to allow me to pet him, and thankfully I did break through his emotional barriers and win him over and I believe he was happy with me. Unfortunately, I only got four years with him, before he passed away. All this to say Knightly’s story struck a note with me.
But enough about me. I very much enjoyed this book, sad at times, but also uplifting and hopeful, and I truly admire the staff of Dogtown and their devotion to their charges.
Each chapter is focused on one or two specific dogs, almost all of them having come to Dogtown from a bad situation – hoarding, puppy mills, even a couple of the Vicktory Dogs, as the pitties involved in Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation came to be called. But one dog’s story especially touched me. Knightly had lived his whole life in a safe loving home as part of the family, but his owners were elderly and eventually were unable to take care of themselves, much less Knightly. Long story short, Knightly found himself at Dogtown, where he was bewildered, anxious, and depressed. I could easily picture him, lost in his new world, and my heart just ached. I’m actually tearing up right now, just writing about him. My last dog experienced a similar situation, finding his way to me after his owner passed away. Unlike Knightly, he was unsocialized, having been around pretty much nobody but his one owner for six years. But like Knightly, he was bewildered and anxious. It took several weeks for me to gain his trust, for him to allow me to pet him, and thankfully I did break through his emotional barriers and win him over and I believe he was happy with me. Unfortunately, I only got four years with him, before he passed away. All this to say Knightly’s story struck a note with me.
But enough about me. I very much enjoyed this book, sad at times, but also uplifting and hopeful, and I truly admire the staff of Dogtown and their devotion to their charges.
June 22, 2017
I registered this book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14598169
A selection of stories about dogs both at DogTown and in the past or present lives of DogTown staff members. Fifteen of the stories are written by Bechtel, and feature one or two dogs per chapter. These are the chapters. Intertwined with the DogTown rescue chapters are "essays": personal dog stories by trainers and veterinarians who work at DogTown. None of the stories are extraordinary in the sense that no other dog has done this or that, but all feature the overarching philosophy of Best Friends Animal Society: every dog is an individual, and every dog deserves a good life.
What this means in the real world is that Best Friends takes on the "difficult" dogs: those who are aggressive, very sick, very withdrawn, or with other issues that make them difficult to place in homes. Each dog is treated as an individual, and often unique solutions are found to problems.
It's easy to fall in love with many of the dogs in these stories. It is also easy to become fond of the trainers and the vets who work with them. Having watched the NatGeo series (Dogtown), and then having read this book, I believe that John Garcia is one of the best trainers out there, if not the best.
I give the book three stars because the writing is average. It is well worth reading nevertheless.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14598169
A selection of stories about dogs both at DogTown and in the past or present lives of DogTown staff members. Fifteen of the stories are written by Bechtel, and feature one or two dogs per chapter. These are the chapters. Intertwined with the DogTown rescue chapters are "essays": personal dog stories by trainers and veterinarians who work at DogTown. None of the stories are extraordinary in the sense that no other dog has done this or that, but all feature the overarching philosophy of Best Friends Animal Society: every dog is an individual, and every dog deserves a good life.
What this means in the real world is that Best Friends takes on the "difficult" dogs: those who are aggressive, very sick, very withdrawn, or with other issues that make them difficult to place in homes. Each dog is treated as an individual, and often unique solutions are found to problems.
It's easy to fall in love with many of the dogs in these stories. It is also easy to become fond of the trainers and the vets who work with them. Having watched the NatGeo series (Dogtown), and then having read this book, I believe that John Garcia is one of the best trainers out there, if not the best.
I give the book three stars because the writing is average. It is well worth reading nevertheless.
July 14, 2020
Best Friends is such a magical place. I heard about it back ehen they aired a special on taking in and rehabbing the Victory dogs. I fell in love with the place and always wanted to visit. I got my wish in 2017 and volunteered with the dogs and pigs. It truly is amazing there and they have done such great work there to "save them all." These stories are all amazing stories, showing any dog can be trained. I cried through many of them, but I was glad to read about all of the happy endings for these dogs that were saved. Thank you Best Friends for all that you do!
July 20, 2021
Of course, a book about dogs - I loved it! The stories included make one sad, confused, angry at times, because of how humans treat the beloved animals of this world. But the humans that run Dogtown are truly amazing and sound like my kind of people. Touching yet informative, each chapter tells the story of a dog that was rescued. Also scattered in the book are introductions to some of the committed and loyal staff there, what they do, how they came to be there... It gives one a bit of hope for humanity and if you need a good cry here and there, read this book!
September 4, 2020
This had little vignettes - individual stories about individual rescue dogs housed at Best Friends Animal Rescue. I think this rescue is amazing and I loved the reality show filmed there. This book had some good stories which were told in a basic way. It was OK and filled a need when I was in the mood for something dog related. I also like supporting this rescue in any way. I love what they do.
August 29, 2023
Just ok. Written in the form of short essays by and about different figures at BFAS, dogs and humans both. Interesting material, but editing could have been better. Some of the material (for example, the Vick story) was repetitive and unnecessary. Some of it read like an informercial for BFAS. All in all it was ok, but I've read other BFAS books that were better.
February 25, 2019
This book is sad, yet informative and also hopeful. The author’s recount of the animal stories was good, but I felt he was less kind in his descriptions of the humans who devote their lives to saving these dogs.
July 17, 2017
I laughed, I cried, I want to adopt more pups! Great for dog lovers!
August 3, 2018
Very touching stories! Thank goodness for “Best Friends” establishment and “DogTown” series.
June 23, 2019
Simply amazing how these people managed to help the animals.
February 25, 2021
Awesome book.
August 20, 2022
A must read for dog lovers.
April 3, 2025
perfect book for me -- the beginnings might be sad, but always a happy ending.
and since it is many short stories MANY happy endings.
and since it is many short stories MANY happy endings.
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