Courage, Compassion, Brilliance
Andrew Vachss is not especially well known, in the celebrity sense. Yet he is an important, influential and even heroic man in the best sense of the word. Some know him as a top-notch crime writer, others as a lawyer, others as someone who works with rescued dogs. I hope to give a little fuller story of the magnitude of this man's heroic life. Please leave your feedback and comments at the bottom!
Sheba
Strength in Terrifying Situations
Andrew Vachss says about Sheba: "Wolf/German Shepherd cross. A seeing-eye dog who we adopted after her "retirement," who went on to accompany children to court, and was the greatest undercover partner a man could ever have."Consider how terrifying it must be for a small child to be forced to appear in court to face their batterer/molester, as it is the constitutional right of the criminal to face their accusers.
Mr. Andrew Vachss, in his commitment to children in such nightmarish situations, has created a network where dogs are trained to accompany children into court. The dogs comfort and strengthen the children, so they may face their batterers, and have the courage to testify.
Until such time as Mr. Vachss created this program, there was simply nothing that could be done to strengthen and comfort those children. They would be re-traumatized by the court experience, terrorized by facing the criminal again, and would receive little or no comfort that wouldn't appear 'prejudicial' in proceedings.
The genius of Mr. Vachss is to understand how strengthening a dog can be for a heart and soul, how the mere presence of a dog can give a child the feeling of being protected, strong and safe, even in the worst of situations.
God Bless Andrew Vachss.
What Happened to Andrew that he Fights Predators?
Andrew Vachss addresses his motivation
His real life motivations have inspired incredible and life-changing novels. Hear it from the author himself.
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Vachss: The Heroic Dog of the Year 1994
Paraphrased & Quoted from an article by Karyn Smith
"Vachss can't talk, so he can't tell their secrets. Because of Vachss' size, children feel protected," the dog helps lessen children's feelings of intimidation in the courtroom, where they often must look into the eyes of their alleged perpetrators."Anytime a child is in the courtroom, they're facing the person they're accusing. There's intimidation there, even for us as adults," Leigh Johnson said.
"This is an even more vulnerable situation for the children. Vachss gives them the comfort of a friend." Johnson turned down requests to interview children, saying she didn't want to compromise their pending court cases.
"If I asked them to talk to you anonymously, they probably would agree. Most of them are natural-bom pleasers," Johnson said. "But most children who have been abused expect to be re-abused, so we go overboard to protect them with confidentiality for protective and legal reasons."
Please visit his website to gain a fuller understanding and a great deal more information:
The Zero
Radio Interview with Andrew Vachss
Three Decades of Genius
- WPSU TV/FM - Penn State Public Broadcasting
- For more than three decades, Andrew Vachss has sought to protect children from the devastating effects of child abuse both as a lawyer who represents children exclusively and as a writer whose dark fiction brings his battle before a wider audience. Most fans know him for his gritty mystery series featuring the enigmatic avenger Burke. He hopes his newest, and very different, novel will get us to take a hard look at what we accept as truth. We talked with Vachss about his life's work and about his newest novel, Two Trains Running.
Using his books in the war against child abuse
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Andrew Vachss on Wikipedia
Andrew Henry Vachss (born 1942) is an American crime fiction author, child protection consultant, and attorney exclusively representing children and youth...
Andrew Vachss' best recommendations to rescue children from abuse.
Champion of abused children in virtually every respect.
One of the least discussed, and least successful areas of American life, is how to effectively rescue children from abuse. Andrew Vachss discusses genuine action.
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PROTECT
Founded by Andrew Vachss
- PROTECT :: National Association to PROTECT Children :: Pro-Child :: Anti-Crime
- PROTECT is a national pro-children, anti-crime membership association dedicated to providing political strength and leadership for the protection of abused, exploited, and neglected children.
Andrew Vachss on the connection between child & animal protection
So connected, so important!
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Books by Andrew Vachss
Incredible Writer
Andrew Vachss has brought the issue of child abuse into novel form, confronts the depth of the criminal mind and the innocent heart; has written two of the darkest of the dark Batman novels, and has used the proceeds to protect and defend battered and molested children in court.
Support Mr. Vachss' work by reading his great books. It will be fascinating for you, helpful to him, and will do extraordinary things for children and rescue dogs.
Batman: The Ultimate Evil (Batman) by Andrew H. Vachss
Probably the darkest and most rigorous of ALL the more...1 point
Andrew Vachss: Where his ideas originate
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Great Links about Andrew Vachss
Frank Caruso
Cartoons with Andrew's Words2 points
Dogs of The Zero - Sheba
Meet Sheba, featured in Andrew Vachss' Burke novel more...2 points
Dogs of The Zero - Vachss
Vachss; the German Shepherd Dog Club of America's more...2 points
Pretrial Hearings: State of Mississippi vs. Jimmy Tatum
Vachss in action, a transcript of the court procee more...2 points
Novelist Vachss Uses Fiction to Fight Child Abuse (Reuters)
Novelist Vachss Uses Fiction to Fight Child Abuse2 points
You Carry the Cure In Your Own Heart by Andrew Vachss (Parade Magazine): The Zero 5.0laf - The Official Website of Andrew Vachss
Emotional abuse of children can lead, in adulthood more...1 point
YouTube - Interview with child advocate Andrew Vachss (part 1 of 4 )
Andrew Vachss is an attorney who represents childr more...1 point
Sav-A-Dog Foundation Inc.
One of Mr. Vachss' favorite rescue operations.0 points
Joseph Steinfeld's Neo Pack: Zero Pack
Joseph Steinfeld's Neo Pack, Zero Pack Dogs.0 points
One Sole Practitioner's Crusade (Lawyers Weekly USA)
One Sole Practitioner's Crusade, by Sean Corcoran. more...0 points
Roseville Criminal Attorney | Dan Koukol
Sacramento criminal law and DUI attorney Dan Kouko more...0 points
Comments and Opinions
Andrew Vachss and his children/dog rescue work
What impact does this man's lifetime vocation leave on you? Which books have you read, and what can you tell us about them? Thanks for your comments!
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- mooaany mooaany Oct 30, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
- I have read every book Mr. Vachss has written that I could find. I fell in love with all of the "hardcore tough guys" with hearts of gold.
The horror of what we are able to do to the weaker of ourselves is a very bitter pill but to accept but to have the hope that there are some folks out there tough enough to do what it takes to help and protect. is a special high.
No super sleuths, no pretty boys, but tough enough to care.
Mr. Vachss books are not for the faint of heart, but if you like a protagonist with a heart of gold and a determination of steel to do good, you will be inspired.
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- Juin_R_Charnell Juin_R_Charnell Jun 22, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
- I have been a fan of his forever. I met his wife (if he's still married) when she came to St Paul and did a reading at Hungry Mind Bookstore.
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- Undeadrat Undeadrat Aug 1, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
- I read Andrew Vachss' books long before I knew anything about the man. I picked up Strega because that word meant witch so I expected a horror novel. The bookseller pointed out that the series began with Flood and corrected my misconceptions -- no monsters but the human ones -- no simple horror novel but the kind of horrific story that will open your eyes as it scars you for life. I greedily snatched them up (and that is the value of a good bookseller or librarian).
After I read Flood I dove into Strega and after Strega found Blue Belle in the library. I read the Burke books as they came out. But it wasn't enough. I shared with friends. I went on the internet and discovered a world of information about Andrew Vachss -- the man and his mission. Visit his website, you'll see what I mean.
I am not the same person I was before I read Flood. I can never go back. And for my children's sake that is probably a good thing.
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- JJNW JJNW Jul 4, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
- Very interesting! Thank you for the unique information!
Hi from another Adopt a Pet Group member :-).
One of my animal lenses is "Charity Fund Raising Page for the Humane Society"
Please Help Dogs and Cats Right Now! This lens is to help the Humane Society help animals and to raise awareness about the wonderful animals for adoption at local shelters. We got both our dogs there!
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- healandforgive healandforgive Apr 18, 2008 @ 8:44 am
- Thank you for spreading the word about Vachss' work. I'm a big fan. I especially like his book, "Another Chance to Get It Right" And I have reprinted portions of his terrific article "You Carry the Cure in Your Own Heart" (http://vachss.com/av_dispatches/disp_9408_a.html) in my own work. Thanks again for a great lens!
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- woohooinwonderland woohooinwonderland Jan 26, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
- Bravo! This is truly an outstanding lens about an outstanding individual. I've just spent the last hour or two reading it and everything linked to it. Tears ran down my face reading some of the stories, and all I can say is that Andrew Vachss is truly someone who has freely given of himself and his talents to help victimized children. He really walks the walk. Thanks so much for this tribute to a great man.
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- GypsyPirate GypsyPirate Nov 10, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
- Thank you so much for getting out the word about this man and his wonderful work.
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- Karendelac Karendelac Sep 9, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
- I am passionate about animals and your lens is a solid 5 stars. I have just completed a Bird Rescue Lens ~~ Please click on Karendelac above, to view it.
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- TinaJen TinaJen Aug 13, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
- "Two Trains Running" is my favorite Vachss book. His books are fiction, but the facts he uses are always true. He writes about cars, sports, animals -- and all of it is completely dead on. I think it's bizarre that one commenter called him disturbed. I guess any joeboy can toss adjectives around.
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- syancey syancey Aug 2, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
- I have found countless sources of research material over the years thanks to Andrew Vachss. It was only after 2 or 3 years of perusing his site I realized he was also a fiction writer. A truly interesting, compelling author and possibly deeply disturbed man. Maybe that's WHY he's interesting.
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- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Apr 22, 2007 @ 1:50 am
- Thanks for bringing this to my attention. What a wonderful human being. My reading list keeps growing!
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- Crystal_Booth Crystal_Booth Apr 15, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
- Wonderful lens here! Thanks for joining the Favorite Authors and Novels Group. I also invite your readers to join and showcase their lenses. Hope to see you in the members area! ~ Crystal
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- John_Fenzel John_Fenzel Mar 7, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
- One of the best authors in the crime fiction genre...but I had no idea about his work with children and dogs! You see, it IS what you learn after you know it all that really counts...and lenses like Margaret Schaut's makes it all possible!
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- Mar 1, 2007 @ 7:43 am
- I HAVE heard of Vachss! I was doing online research about using therapy dogs in court rooms for the benefit of children in the court system. Sheba is an inspiration!
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- KCStargazer KCStargazer Jan 30, 2007 @ 10:33 am
- Excellent Lens, Margaret (as always)!
This man is a true champion of children. Thank you for featuring this cause and his story. Your lens is a welcome addition to the Kaleidoscope Group!
KCStargazer
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- ThomasClifford ThomasClifford Jan 29, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
- Great lens, Margaret! And a great story! Someone should produce a documentary about the greatness being created...perhaps some day the story will be told to a larger audience!
Thomas R. Clifford
Corporate Documentary Filmmaker
squidoo.com/thomasclifford
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- Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut Jan 29, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
- Yes, Giddy, and its a sign of how successful Mr. Vachss was in bringing that terrible situation to everyone's attention. Prior to his creative solution, there was nothing to protect or comfort children in those situations. What an example of how one person can affect great change for the better!
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- giddygabby giddygabby Jan 29, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
- Another great lens, Margaret. Luckily, children in the US no longer have to testify in front of their abuser. Closed circuit television now permits their live testimony without direct contact with the defendant. Dogs such as Vachss, however, must be an enormous comfort throughout the trial.
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- boredofeducation boredofeducation Jan 28, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
- Welcome to The Squidoo Book Club!
Are you on my newsletter mailing list? Do you want to be?
by Margaret_Schaut
Both vulnerable children AND rescue animals are important to me, important in my life. We hear so much slanted news reporting about bad dogs, b...
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