Andrew Vachss & Vachss The Hero Dog

VACHSS THE AUTHOR

Any real devotee of modern noir crime fiction knows the name Andrew Vachss.

Although this bad ass cat has been pumping fresh blood into the genre for over twenty years, and is widely respected by his peers, he has been unable to break out fully into the mainstream.

But that ain't such a bad thing. There's a real reason for it.

His books are hard. They are NOT pleasant to read. They're dark....and ugly....and violent.....fucking relentless.... and bleak. They take you into places you'd never want to go, introduce you to characters you'd never want to meet, and show you things you'd never want to witness.

But like good art should - they challenge you.

They make you think and pull you into worlds that are so undeniably real that you cannot look away - whether you like it or not.

What separates Vachss's writings from your Grishams, or your Kings, or your Koontzs, or Parkers, or any other bestsellers out there - is the credibility he brings to the table through what he sees everyday.

Now, I'm not putting down any of those guys above. I'm a fan of all of them. They all grace my bookshelf.

But this motherfucker walks the walk.

Since 1976 he has worked as a lawyer in New York City and has made it his mission in life to protect the most defenseless of victims: children. The exploited and abused.

Everytime this man clocks in he faces pure evil.

Just imagine, for a second, what that must be like. To see those kinds of horrors cross your desk everyday. I think it might drive me crazy.

But I'm not Vachss. Vachss knew what to do. He created BURKE.

About his alter-ego, Vachss says:

"If you look at Burke closely, you'll see the protypical abused child: hypervigilant, distrustful. He's so committed to his family of choice - not his DNA-biological family, which tortured him, or the state which raised him, but the family that he chose - that homicide is a natural consequence of injuring any of that family. He's not a hit man. But he shares the same religion I do, which is revenge."

In real life Vachss has to play by the rules. His abilities lie within the confines of our legal system.

But on the page Burke can distribute justice with extreme prejudice.

And he does. Big time. It's something to see.




VACHSS THE DOG

As much as I love his novels, I have to say that Mr. Vachss's work with animals, especially dogs - is what really hits me where I live.

Anyone that really knows me, and I'm gonna show my sensitive side here, knows that I have a ridiculous soft spot for animals. A RIDICULOUS soft spot.

Kill as many people in a movie as you want and I'm fine. Kill one dog and I'm a mess. I sobbed like a little girl at the end of Turner & Hooch.

And that was last week.

Show me a puppy and I turn into a drooling retard. You want to see me cry, show me an animal story.

Like this one.

Mr. Vachss's words:

"When I first came up with the idea of using a "therapy dog" to work with abused children, I turned to my brother, James Colbert who has been my partner on projects ranging from literary to much riskier ventures. Jim, an ex-Marine and former police officer, with a range of specialized skills too lengthy to list here, has a superb understanding of dogs, and of children in need of protection. After a long search, Jim found the perfect German Shepherd, and persuaded the breeder to part with him. Jim named him "Vachss"—one of the greatest honors ever bestowed upon me. It was Jim who brought Vachss to Jackson, Mississippi—in fact, Vachss made a TV appearance that same day, and was an instant star—explained the dog's mission to the Children's Advocacy Center, and then took him home to his farm in Louisiana, where he personally trained him for his work. Later, when Vachss—who grew into a huge example of his breed—became too much of a "handful" for local personnel, it was Jim who came and got him, and re-trained the big guy so that he could be handled by those with much less experience and physical strength than the original specs called for. Against everyone's advice, Jim allowed Vachss to run with Honey, reasoning that, if he could train the Shepherd to deal with the intrepid antics of a rambunctious pit bull pup, he would find dealing with anxious and unruly children a breeze. He was right. And then Jim took him back to Jackson, to personally work with those who would be handling Vachss on a daily basis."

"In all the ways that count, Vachss was Jim's dog. Jim picked him, Jim named him, Jim brought him home ... Jim loved him and trained him and cared for him. Vachss had his work, and he did it heroically, to the very end. But the man who raised him, the man who loved him enough to let him go and be a warrior for children, has not been acknowledged in the many media accounts that have since been generated. Vachss carries my name, but it was James Colbert who made all he achieved for children possible."

CLARION-LEDGER ARTICLE

This is the article that was wriiten about Vachss, the dog, in the Clarion-Ledger. November 4, 1994



The German Shepherd Dog Club of America's
Hero Dog of the Year 1994.

Dog Comforts Abused Children in Court.

A good-natured German shepherd helps youngsters cope with facing those accused of sexual offenses.

To the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Vachss is Hero of the Year.

To the abused children he helps, the 3-year-old German shepherd is a cuddly confidante who listens to their secrets and comforts them during courtroom appearances.

Licensed and trained to work with children, the dog has escorted three children into the courtroom for their testimony against their accused sexual offenders.

Vachss will be presented the Hero of the Year award Nov. 11 in Perry, Ga., for his work with the Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center.

Sue Hathorn, executive director of the center and Vachss' guardian, said the dog has a genteel personality that makes children comfortable in and out of the courtroom.

"He will just lie down on the porch and let the kids just wallow all over him. It may not be therapy, but it sure looks good to me," said Hathorn, who has run the nonprofit center on President Street since its inception in January 1990.

"We as adults see a great big dog, but the children see a friend," Hathorn said.

Vachss, from Covy-Tucker Hill Kennels in California, was donated to the center for therapy work with abused children by his namesake, Andrew Vachss, a New York City attorney who specializes in juvenile justice and child abuse cases.

The attorney also writes novels based on child abuse cases he deals with daily.

Patterned after a program in Huntsville, Ala., the Children's Advocacy Center is an outgrowth of the Mississippi Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Hathorn said.

The center focuses on interviewing and counseling abused children; the Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse focuses on education. The third arm of the program, Children First, is made up of volunteers who represent children in court.

Services at the center are free, with most funding coming from the Jackson-based Bingo Depot.

"The center grew out of a need for education and prevention. As we grew and learned, we found that the children needed to be represented in court," Hathorn said.

Hathorn said she'd heard of dogs being used as companions for the elderly and in youth detention centers in lessons on nurturing but wasn't familiar with dogs being used with abused children.

In 1990, Andrew Vachss traveled to Jackson, promising a therapy dog and the support needed to get the newly formed center off the ground.

Andrew Vachss could not be reached for comment.

Leigh Johnson, director of the center, said the use of the dog is an anomaly in counseling child abuse victims in Mississippi.

"We are the only facility that has a therapy dog to use when we want to. The main advantage is that most kids love animals, and most have never been hurt by an animal," Johnson said.

"Vachss can't talk, so he can't tell their secrets. Because of Vachss' size, children feel protected," she said.

Johnson said 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," 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."

The Clarion-Ledger does not publish the names of sexual assault victims. Vachss has worked with children ages 5 to 14, Johnson said.

Vachss made his first courtroom appearance about four years ago when he sat at the feet of a 5-year-old girl in a preliminary hearing before Rankin County Judge Jim Smith.

Smith, now a state Supreme Court justice, said the dog steeled the child's courage and helped her testify confidently.

"We're not used to seeing children react like that in a courtroom situation," he said. "(Vachss) opens them up and helps the child testify in a very clear, forthright manner."

Smith said he researched the legality of the procedure and followed the guidelines set down by the state of New York.

"The dog has to be licensed and trained in this specific area, and the jury must not have any contact with the dog or actually see the dog," Smith said.

"No one other than court officials knew the dog was sitting at the foot of the child," Smith said of the first and only time Vachss appeared in his courtroom.

"He's really just a security blanket for the children. It's nothing new really; it's been done in many states," Smith said. "It's just a different approach, especially with a large animal like this."

THE COURT TRANSCRIPT

Not teary eyed yet? Okay.

What follows is the opening transcripts of a court case involving Vachss and a brave little girl named Cody.

The kid in the picture above.

One can only hope the defense lawyer, one Mr. John Robbins, is lying on a hospital bed, dying a slow death from pancreatic cancer.


STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
VS CAUSE NO. 3610
JIMMY TATUM DEFENDANT

TRANSCRIPT OF A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDINGS HAD AND DONE IN THE TRIAL IN THE ABOVE STYLED AND NUMBERED CAUSE BEFORE THE HONORABLE ROBERT L. GOZA, CIRCUIT JUDGE OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, ON THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1992.



APPEARANCES:

Present and Representing the State:

Honorable Jim Kelly, Honorable Rick Mitchell
Assistant District Attorneys
Rankin and Madison Counties

Present and Representing the Defendant:

Honorable John Robbins
Attorney at Law
Brandon, Ms 39042

OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF THE JURY:

BY THE COURT: The child will be the next witness. I intend to voirdire her out of the presence of the jury on her appreciation of the oath and duty to tell the truth and that sort of thing to determine whether or not because of her age she is a competent witness in the case. It is also my understanding that the State wishes to bring the dog Vachss in here to accompany her during her testimony. If you have any objection to the animal being brought around here.

BY MR. ROBBINS: Yes sir, we do, Your Honor.

BY THE COURT: State your objection for the record.
BY MR. ROBBINS: We would object in that if this were a seeing eye dog or some type necessary animal for someone to use for one of their senses then we would not object, but in this particular instance it is not that reason and therefore we would object to bringing the dog in the courtroom.

BY THE COURT: Develop two points for me for the record. First, tell me how your client is prejudiced by the dog being present, and second, tell me what you contend the difference to be between the dog accompanying the child for the purpose of giving her some sort of security and comfort and me permitting the child to bring a favorite doll or teddy bear to hold during her testimony. Distinguish those for the record for me please.

BY MR. ROBBINS: There is a vast difference, taking number two first, between a ninety pound animal or some large number of pounds, and a teddy bear.

BY THE COURT: How is it different in principal though?

BY MR. ROBBINS: Taking number two first, there is a vast difference between a ninety pound animal or some large number of pounds and a teddy bear which is something a child could hold in its arms. The dog is impressive nonetheless by its size. The child does not appear in any way to need any comfort. However if she wishes to have a teddy bear, certainly we wouldn't object to a teddy bear being brought in for the child. And as far as prejudice to my client is concerned, this is the prosecution's witness and she is suppose to be on the stand by herself and not with any help or aid. If he were to take the stand the Court wouldn't allow him any help or aid to be up there unless he was blind or deaf or something of that nature and there is nothing that appears to be wrong with this child. She seems to be a perfectly normal little girl. And for that reason we would say that certainly he is being prejudiced by having the affiant on the stand with the entourage that she has.

BY THE COURT: What type bonding process has there been between Vachss and the little girl?

BY MR. MITCHELL: Kathy Meeks is going to be testifying shortly and has a vast knowledge on that, I believe, that the dog is owned by the Children's Advocacy Center in Jackson. That is where the little girl has had sessions. It is my understanding that on almost all occasions when the little girl has gone to the Advocacy Center to speak with the Doctor the dog has been there. Doctor Meeks will testify that she and the dog get along. She has developed a bond with that dog, she gets comfortable with the dog being there. If for some reason someone else such as an adult might need a dog to get up there I don't believe the State would object to that. If that is the contention of Mr. Robbins, if his witness needs some assistance such as an animal up there I don't think the State is going to object. In addition to that I believe Mr. Robbins made an opening statement to the jury that he had no objection at that time. I told them that there was going to be a dog. He said if she needed a dog he wanted a dog up there.

BY THE COURT: All right, I don't see that the presence of the dog has any prejudicial effect on Mr. Tatum's rights in this case and I do see that it could assist the child in giving her testimony. Now it won't be necessary for anybody to remain in the courtroom with Vachss. I mean there is one thing in having Vachss in the courtroom and it is quite another thing having Vachss and Vachss' trainer in the courtroom.

BY MR. MITCHELL: You might have to ask the handler. He might be best to answer that. I think the only reason we have Doctor Hawthorne here, in case Vachss decides to get up and do something. There is not going to be any contact with the dog as long as the dog lays there, it is my understanding. You might want to ask ...

BY THE COURT: Doctor Hawthorne?

BY DR. HAWTHORNE: Sometimes it gets too hot under there and he decides to come out. Before, I think, Judge Smith had me here in case anybody was worried about him wandering out.

BY THE COURT: Vachss is not a vicious animal, I suppose. What I am going to ask you to do, Doctor Hawthorne, is to sit back over there before we bring the jury back. Ask Cody to come back in.

BY THE COURT: Hello. I need to talk to you just a moment. What is your name?

A. Cody Mann.

BY THE COURT: How old are you Cody?

A. Seven.

BY THE COURT: When is your birthday?

A. April 19, 1984.

BY THE COURT: And do you go to school?

A. Richland Middle School.

BY THE COURT: What grade are you in?

A. Second.

BY THE COURT: You started to school last year and this is your second year?

A. Yes.

BY THE COURT: Have you passed everything and have you got good grades?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Do you belong to a Church, do you go to Sunday School?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Do you know where we are and what we are doing here, what kind of room we are in?

A. Yes, sir, it is a courtroom.

BY THE COURT: Do you know what kind of chair you are sitting in?

A. A witness chair.

BY THE COURT: And do you know these men sitting over here are with the District Attorney's office and that Mr. Robbins is Mr. Tatum's attorney and that Mr. Tatum is on trial, do you know that?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: And do you know who sits over there in that box?

A. The jury.

BY THE COURT: Do you understand what an oath to tell the truth is?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: What is it?

A. I don't really know.

BY THE COURT: Do you know the difference between telling the truth or telling a story or something that is not true?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: And do you know which is best?

A. To tell the truth.

BY THE COURT: Why, what happens to you if you don't tell the truth, do you know that?

A. You will get in trouble.

BY THE COURT: And you know that the oath is the oath you take to God to tell the truth?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: How does God feel about people that tell the truth?

A. He feels really proud of them.

BY THE COURT: And how does he feel about people who don't?

A. Really bad.

BY THE COURT: And how do you want God to feel about you?

A. Really proud.

BY THE COURT: Cody, Vachss, the German Shepherd dog is there in the witness chair with you. How do you feel about Vachss?

A. Safe.

BY THE COURT: You like him, you want him to be with you in the witness box while you testify?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: You think that will make you feel secure?

A. Yes, sir.

BY THE COURT: Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Robbins, do you have any questions you want to ask?

BY ALL COUNSEL: None, Your Honor.

BY THE COURT: All right gentlemen, I find that Ms. Mann is competent to testify in this case and that it is in the best interest of justice that Vachss be permitted to occupy the witness box with her while she does so. Is the dog's name Vacks?

BY MS. HAWTHORNE: V-a-c-h-s-s.

BY THE COURT: What kind of name is that?

BY MS. HAWTHORNE: That was the owner's . . . a lawyer in New York City, Andrew Vachss, donated the dog to the center.

BY THE COURT: Oh, I see. That is quite an honor to have a dog like that named after you. Ask the jury to come in.

**HEREIN TRIAL RESUMES**

Not too long ago I was able to see video of these proceedings on COURT TV. It might be available online - but be warned - It had me blubbering like a mess.