Lots of ink was spilled about Michael Vick and his horrible abuse of the Pit Bull Terriers on his property. The fact that he's cooling his heels in jail, rather than enjoying himself in a McMansion in suburban Atlanta is little solace to the dogs that suffered and died for his and his friends' amusement.Most people naturally assumed that all of the dogs rescued from Vick's property would be summarily "put down," the euphemism that uncannily is never applied to ourselves. Even holier than thou animal rights group PETA suggested that they all be killed without even cursory evaluation... well, I was happy to find that most of the dogs have been rehabbed and most of them have found new homes.
Sports Illustrated, usually keen to tug at other parts of the male anatomy, rather than the heart, has a wonderful article on what has happened to the "Michael Vick Dogs." ... click here for a slide show. And PS, read the article please before you reply with any uninformed prejudice about the breed.47 of the 51 Vick dogs were saved. (Two died while in the shelters; one was destroyed because it was too violent; and another was euthanized for medical reasons.) Twenty-two dogs went to Best Friends, where McMillan and his staff chart their emotional state daily; almost all show steady improvement in categories such as calmness, sociability and happiness. McMillan believes 17 of the dogs will eventually be adopted, and applicants are being screened for the first of those. The other 25 have been spread around the country; the biggest group, 10, went to California with BAD RAP. Fourteen of the 25 have been placed in permanent homes, and the rest are in foster care.
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