Ad
Ad

Vick dog adoption stories

8 comments | Leave your own comment

It was one of the biggest dog stories of 2007: Pit Bulls taken from Michael Vick's dog fighting operation escaped euthanasia--how seized fighting dogs routinely end their sad lives. Instead, the dogs were given a chance.

Breed experts visited the dogs and sounded out their sociability and fear levels. Dogs who fared well were sent to experienced rescue groups and foster families across the country for training, healing, and eventually, adoption.

It was a bold move, and a controversial one. Many people, including some animal rights groups, argued that fighting dogs are too damaged to ever be safe in a home.

So when DogTime learned that a few of those dogs were just across the bay from us under the care of BAD RAP, a local pit bull education and rescue group, we had to go see for ourselves. Last winter we watched, and videotaped, as four Vick rescue dogs strutted their stuff in a BAD RAP manners and obedience class. Like many, we were delighted and well, a bit surprised by the dogs. Although we're fans of the beleaguered Pit Bull Terrier, it was amazing to see that dogs raised in such cruel conditions were well behaved, eager to learn, and affectionate.

Three of those four dogs are now adopted into loving homes, a small miracle in a miserable time for the breed. Their adopters hope that by telling the dogs' stories, more fight bust dogs--and Pit Bulls in general--will get the chance to be judged by their own temperament and behavior, not by their breed or the hands they were unlucky enough to fall into.

The Vick dogs go home

Uba: A shy boy comes out of his shell

Jonny Justice: A star settles down

Hector: A cuddle fiend finds a new vocation


8 comments | Leave your own comment

Ad
Dear Labby
Help shelter dogs and puppies through Save a Dog on Facebook


Comments

Avatar “Mike Vick has at least one of the traits as serial murders.......killing and abusing animals! I hope the public will tear him apart as he did those poor animals while fighting them! And I HOPE its at the first EAGLES GAME!!!! I could ask is the NFL so desperate for money that they allow someone who appears to be lee than human be a ROLE MODEL for our children???SHAME on them.....” — Sassie N Godiva, Aug 29 2009

100_0263_thumbnail “People like to put labels on EVERYTHING! The Pit bulls have by far gotten the worst label of all. The media has made them out to be horrible animals and should be exterminated. My two pits are great and a welcome addition to anywhere I take them. Both are well behaved and very social. They greet new children with "Let's PLAY" and adults with a friendly sniffing. I've not have a negative feedback from anyone in years! Plus, a few years ago, I had a night time break-in at my home while my wife and I were asleep. The girls made sure that the intruder never made it but a few feet into the home and escorted him out and up the street. I know this since the back door of our home was wide open the next morning when I came down. Pandora, was missing, but when I opened the front door, there she was as she was trained to do, sit & wait. Mary made her way back inside during the night and was in her bed to stand interior guard. They are the best and smartest dogs that I've ever had and trained!” — Derrick Soo, Aug 09 2009

Snoeppeek_002x_thumbnail “It just goes to show that APBTs are as tough and resilient mentally as they are physically. How many other breeds could endure such horrid abuse and emerge as happy, normal family dogs?
For the record, Michael Vick should be dipped in bacon grease, rolled in opossum fur and thrown to some hungry mastiffs.” — Snoep's Human, Apr 22 2009

See all 8 comments

Add a comment
newest topics:
News
See ALL topics in this forum
Subscribe to News 30 topics, 153 posts
Button_topic_start topics replies views last post
>>> Tammy Grimes: heroine or criminal? last

Did Tammy Grimes cross the line when she took a suffering dog out of a stranger's backyard? Or did she do the right thing, no matter what the law says? Share your thoughts with other readers here.

 40 5756 Feb 2, 2010 7:22pm by Ms. Alaska
view
Why is it legal to Deer & Moose hunt but illegal to fight dogs?

Shouldn't all hunting down & killing of animals for sport be considered just as cruel as dog fighting? Obviously I'm not ... (continued)

 5 294 Jan 21, 2010 9:07am by Jaz
view
Vizsla PLEASE!!!

I have had 2 Vizslas. I live in Sacramento, Ca. and want a new one. Samson died of cancer after several surguries. I can'... (continued)

 1 236 Jan 14, 2010 4:03pm by Jenevi
view
Mystery Mix!

We rescued my dog a year ago--she was a stray. Ever since, we have been desperately trying to figure out what mix she is.... (continued)

 12 1629 Nov 12, 2009 3:22pm by Mellissa
view