Overview

For those who love dogs and hate What Michael Vick did to our best Friends...the rest of the story. It Went to the Dogs How Michael Vick's Dogfighting Compound Became a Haven for Rescue Pups Expanded Edition Tamira Thayne For those who love dogs and hate What Michael Vick did to our best Friends...the rest of the story. What could possibly go wrong when a dog activist buys Michael Vick's dogfighting compound? As it turns out...everything. --- 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. --- Tamira Thayne was alone, parked across the street, and early for her appointment with the Hampton Roads, Virginia realtor. Today was the day she'd tour Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound, something she'd never imagined nor particularly wanted to do. It seemed pretty creepy, truth be told. Tamira felt the whispers surround her, reaching out. The rescuer in her 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. She shuddered, pulling herself together. --- The decision Tamira would make that fateful day in February 2011 would lead not only to a home for her nonprofit's rescue dogs, but also to the most turbulent four years of her life: she faced down allegations of racism, community harassment, poisoning, and, ultimately, false charges aimed at driving her and Dogs Deserve Better from the county. There was a reason Michael Vick felt he could get away with dogfighting in Surry County, Virginia-and why he got away with it for as long as he did... With over 235 bw photos and documents. Expanded, casebound edition contains 15 extra pages of before and after rescue photos.

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9781946044778

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"""Sometimes truth is a hard pill to swallow. This book was everything I thought it would be. Real, raw, uncensored. ""The book was more than a story it was a journey alongside the author. Her experiences became mine, thoughtful, well-expressed, and truthful. Her book hit home with me as a rescuer; I could relate to a lot of her tribulations. ""It Went to the Dogs verified to me that the plight of rescuing is nothing compared to the challenges faced when people get in the way of a meaningful mission and the story about dogs becomes a story about survival not just for dogs but for the human spirit. ""I am so glad Tamira decided to write this book. It is a necessary read for anyone embarking on a mission to help animals especially a breed like the pitbull which is so misunderstood. Animal welfare embodies so much more than you think, and Tamira brings it home. ""There's a quote that says the way a society treats animals can be a reflection of how it treats it's people. I appreciate how the author ties together animal welfare, human morale and politics to describe the bigger picture of animal welfare and the need for education, awareness and better laws to protect animals and humans alike.""-Regina Quinn, founder, Blue Angels Pitbull Advocacy & Rescue Resource ""Starting a 501-3c non-profit animal rescue isn't easy under any circumstances...but Tamira Ci Thayne has never been accused of doing something because it's easy. She's a woman who walks the walk. In her new book, ""It Went to the Dogs"", she lets readers behind the scenes during her quest to do something really hard--turning Michael Vick's dog fighting property into a rescue for chained and penned dogs. Tamira's objective was to transform the bad energy of Vick's property into good energy. To memorialize the Dogs who had died in fear; heal the place, and the ghosts of those dogs; and to create a safe space to rehabilitate dogs who had only ever known isolation and loneliness, preparing them to be adopted into loving families. Many of those dogs' stories are told throughout the book. The endeavor was met with obstacles, treachery, and disdain at every turn--but through it all, Thayne persisted, and she is nothing if not tenacious. Tamira's story is for anyone in animal rescue, everyone who has ever come up against insurmountable odds, and everyone who loves dogs. It is a master class in pursuing your dream.""--C.A. Wulff ""I have had the privilege of meeting the author and visiting the Good Newz Rehab Center in Smithfield VA, the history of which is extensively documented in this book. There's no doubt whatsoever that Tamira Thayne has transformed a place of unspeakable terror and torture against dogs into a healing, loving refuge for formerly chained, penned, and abused dogs. The facility I saw was exactly as described in this book: it was immaculate, the staff was attentive and compassionate, the grounds were well-maintained and set up to provide safety, exercise and comfort for the dogs, top-notch medical care was provided, along with good food, clean water, and well, love. That transformation alone should make this story compelling, but the fact that Tamira accomplished all of that while being subjected to constant intimidation, harassment and persecution by Surry County officials and residents is what gives this story its edge. The treatment she endured was shameful, but she persisted in her mission to create a refuge and safe haven for chained dogs so that they could be rehabilitated and placed into loving forever homes. Tamira's respect and affection for all animals - not just dogs - is boundless, and what she achieved in Smithfield is nothing short of a small miracle.""-David Hoover"

Sometimes truth is a hard pill to swallow. This book was everything I thought it would be. Real, raw, uncensored. The book was more than a story it was a journey alongside the author. Her experiences became mine, thoughtful, well-expressed, and truthful. Her book hit home with me as a rescuer; I could relate to a lot of her tribulations. It Went to the Dogs verified to me that the plight of rescuing is nothing compared to the challenges faced when people get in the way of a meaningful mission and the story about dogs becomes a story about survival not just for dogs but for the human spirit. I am so glad Tamira decided to write this book. It is a necessary read for anyone embarking on a mission to help animals especially a breed like the pitbull which is so misunderstood. Animal welfare embodies so much more than you think, and Tamira brings it home. There's a quote that says the way a society treats animals can be a reflection of how it treats it's people. I appreciate how the author ties together animal welfare, human morale and politics to describe the bigger picture of animal welfare and the need for education, awareness and better laws to protect animals and humans alike. -Regina Quinn, founder, Blue Angels Pitbull Advocacy & Rescue Resource Starting a 501-3c non-profit animal rescue isn't easy under any circumstances...but Tamira Ci Thayne has never been accused of doing something because it's easy. She's a woman who walks the walk. In her new book, It Went to the Dogs , she lets readers behind the scenes during her quest to do something really hard--turning Michael Vick's dog fighting property into a rescue for chained and penned dogs. Tamira's objective was to transform the bad energy of Vick's property into good energy. To memorialize the Dogs who had died in fear; heal the place, and the ghosts of those dogs; and to create a safe space to rehabilitate dogs who had only ever known isolation and loneliness, preparing them to be adopted into loving families. Many of those dogs' stories are told throughout the book. The endeavor was met with obstacles, treachery, and disdain at every turn--but through it all, Thayne persisted, and she is nothing if not tenacious. Tamira's story is for anyone in animal rescue, everyone who has ever come up against insurmountable odds, and everyone who loves dogs. It is a master class in pursuing your dream. --C.A. Wulff I have had the privilege of meeting the author and visiting the Good Newz Rehab Center in Smithfield VA, the history of which is extensively documented in this book. There's no doubt whatsoever that Tamira Thayne has transformed a place of unspeakable terror and torture against dogs into a healing, loving refuge for formerly chained, penned, and abused dogs. The facility I saw was exactly as described in this book: it was immaculate, the staff was attentive and compassionate, the grounds were well-maintained and set up to provide safety, exercise and comfort for the dogs, top-notch medical care was provided, along with good food, clean water, and well, love. That transformation alone should make this story compelling, but the fact that Tamira accomplished all of that while being subjected to constant intimidation, harassment and persecution by Surry County officials and residents is what gives this story its edge. The treatment she endured was shameful, but she persisted in her mission to create a refuge and safe haven for chained dogs so that they could be rehabilitated and placed into loving forever homes. Tamira's respect and affection for all animals - not just dogs - is boundless, and what she achieved in Smithfield is nothing short of a small miracle. -David Hoover

Author Information

Tamira Thayne pioneered the anti-tethering movement in America, forming and leading the nonprofit Dogs Deserve Better for 13 years. During her time on the front lines of animal activism and rescue she took on plenty of bad guys (often failing miserably); her swan song culminated in the purchase and transformation of Michael Vick's dogfighting compound to a chained-dog rescue and rehabilitation center. She's spent 878 hours chained to a doghouse on behalf of the voiceless in front of state capitol buildings nationwide. Tamira is the author of It Went to the Dogs: How Michael Vick's Dogfighting Compound Became a Haven for Rescue Pups, the Chained Gods Series, the Animal Protectors Series, Foster Doggie Insanity, and Capitol in Chains. She's the editor of More Rescue Smiles, and the co-editor of Unchain My Heart and Rescue Smiles. In 2016 she founded Who Chains You, publishing books by and for animal activists and rescuers. Tamira is an Air Force veteran who lives by a river in the woods of northern Virginia, with her husband, daughter, one dog, six cats, and hundreds of outside birds and critters she adores from afar.

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