Posted on 07/08/2008 12:40:01 PM PDT by libstripper
When football superstar Michael Vick pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to run a dogfighting operation, we knew he had kept about 50 pit bulls on his 15-acre property in rural Surry County. We knew the dogs were chained to car axles near wooden hovels for shelter. And we knew the dogs that didn't fight were beaten, shot, hanged, electrocuted or drowned.
But we didn't know their names. Headlines described the nameless dogs as "menacing." Some animal rights groups called for the "ticking time bombs" to be euthanized as soon as Vick's case was closed and they were no longer valuable as evidence. That's what typically happens after a dogfighting bust.
Instead, the court gave Vick's dogs a second chance. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson ordered each dog to be evaluated individually, not judged by the stereotype of the breed. He also ordered Vick to pony up close to $1 million to pay for the
(Excerpt) Read more at hamptonroads.com ...
Great pics at the article link. I doubt the breed banners will jump in on this thread since it doesn’t fit their template.
This is wonderful. It’s not the dogs that are the problem, it’s the people who are cruel to them.
People really misunderstand the pit bull breed, as well as other breeds of dogs. This demonstrates that these poor creatures are just as capable of being “rehabbed” as the true animal who cruelly treated them the way he did.
Vic’s dogs rescued
The whole article and the comments at the end are worth reading. Thanks for posting.
Proving again that dogs are better people than (some) people.
Can these dogs learn new tricks? Bred from young to fight to the death, I don’t know. I’m not a breeder, and I’m glad they could be helped. I’d be leery about certain placements for them, but it’s wonderful to know that some could be helped.
Wow. You and other animal supporter have much more faith in dumb animals than do I. Would I put my kids life in jeopardy by letting them associate with these "rehabilitated" dogs? Not on your life. Would I let me kids play with convicted and "rehabbed" child molesters? No way! Would I let my kids play with a loaded gun? Never! Seems to me that this is what people are doing with these dogs who were bred and trained to kill. Doesn't seem right to me.
I agree I am a little leary of the dogs being placed in the general public. Especially the Juveniles/Adults. However sounds like the judge had some marbles and secured their future even if it took a restricted environment. Of course a Million buck would have gone a long way in a Spay/Neuter program.
But
I’m a little leery of their being placed in the general public as well. With more people like Vick running around out there, the dogs are in a lot of danger.
They’re called Vicktory Dogs at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. The dogs are lucky to be there!
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=862F2789-19B9-B9D5-9D45F830C00AB3E3
Try living with my younger dog, who’s half pit, half Black Lab, and the most silly, bumpy, loving dog in the world for six months and then say that again.
People need to be extremely careful about containing their dogs.
What should have been a lived-happily-ever-after story ended sadly...
PETA is such a twisted and insane group. That despicable organization is evil.
I got dogs, what I want is the woodworking equipment in that third picture with the BAD RAP dogs.
Even the best of these dogs need to be placed with very experienced dog owners. Their owners need to be able to read the early signs of aggression and be able to redirect the behavior before the dog acts out.
I would never suggest placing any of these dogs in families with small children — probably not in families where small children visit. Children are more likely to do things that trigger a dog’s attack behaviors.
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