Pit Bull Documentary Screening Coming to Newport

The film follows five dogs who were rescued from Michael Vick's dogfighting ring.

What better way to start the new year that with a story about hope and redemption? After Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was arrested in connection with a dogfighting ring he was running in rural Virginia, more than fifty brutalized dogs were found. Many argued that they were too damaged to be saved, but some believed otherwise.

You can see the story of five of those dogs and meet one of them later this month at the screening of The Champions in Newport. The critically acclaimed documentary, directed by Darcy Dennett, "takes us on a journey about much more than just dogs — about prejudice, being misunderstood, the power of resilience, and the significance of the relationship we as humans have with animals."

The Champions will be screened at a newportFILM event on January 14 at the Casino Theatre. A panel discussion moderated by Christie Smith, executive director of the Potter League for Animals will follow, featuring Dennett, the director; Cherry, one of the dogs rescued, and his owner, Paul Fiaccone; Lee Greenwood, at attorney at Best Friends Animal Society, and Heather Gutshall, the executive director of Handsome Dan’s Rescue, a Rhode Island-based organization that is named for another one of Vick’s former pit bulls. You can read more about Handsome Dan’s here.  

Take a peek at the trailer here.

Thursday, January 14. Tickets are $25 for the pre-film reception, film and panel, $15 for the movie and panel only. Casino Theater, 9 Freebody St., Newport, newportfilm.com.