While everyone knows the story of Michael Vick’s involvement in the world of dog fighting and his horrific abuse of animals, there is good reason to thank Michael Vick for his accidental contribution to pit bull rescue efforts.
Prior to the day that 47 American Pit Bull Terriers were seized from Vick’s Virginia home, there was no example of a large number of such dogs, who had been bred to fight and then abused most of their lives, being rehabilitated.
That changed when a judge ignored the advice from PETA and other groups and allowed 22 of the most difficult of Vick’s dogs to be sent to a Utah animal sanctuary called Best Friends. One of Vick’s dogs had to be put down because of poor health and 25 were able to be placed in homes.
Some of those dogs are now therapy dogs, agility competitors and family pets. The 22 sent to Best Friends are the reason to believe that some good could actually come from the horror that took place behind that Virginia mansion.
What would become of these 22 dogs that were too unstable to place in homes? PETA said that there was no hope for such dogs. They said that they could never be rehabilitated to the point that they would not be dangerous. They said the only answer was to put all of them down.
Best Friends, which has dubbed these dogs their “Vicktory Dogs”, is proving that theory wrong. Even the worst of the worse cases – Lucas and Georgia – are enjoying their time as pampered pooches. While those two dogs can never be adopted, and must live the rest of their lives at the sanctuary, there is no indication of their extremely violent pasts. They love their caregivers and are enjoying their days filled with romping and playing.
Many of the other Vick dogs that were sent to Best Friends will likely be able to move from the sanctuary to the home of a family. The long term success of these dogs is due to Vick.
In the future, when judges will be able to look back at this case and see proof that even pit bulls that have been chained, fought and otherwise abused can go on to be good family pets, therapy dogs and pass the AKC developed Canine Good Citizen Test. Those judges will be much less likely to make blanket judgments regarding these wonderful dogs.
Best Friends is helping to prove to the world that pit bulls can be rehabilitated, no matter how horrible their backgrounds.
Animal lovers everywhere can hope that when people look back on the tragic story of the Vick dog fighting ring that what everyone remembers most is that many of the dogs went on to be wonderful pets. They do not need to written off as un-savable.
Thank you Michael Vick.
Sarah, I love the title to this, mainly for the fact that it makes people sit up, take notice and read. I had an interesting discussion with my 18 yr old step son about Michael Vick and forgiveness the other day. One of those conversations where you forget how the teenage mind works and kind of have to sit and listen, and be careful how you answer so as not to stop the conversation short! I hate Michael Vick, with a passion. My step son on the other hand, although he strongly feels what Vick did was wrong, he also believed he should be forgiven, has done his time, and should be allowed to move on from it. I had to agree, albeit begrudgingly. Guess he has more forgiveness in his heart than I do.
So, yes, if I look at any of his actions in a positive light, it would be the spotlight his actions allowed to be placed on dog fighting and animal abuse in general.
Comment by Megan Walker — July 7, 2010 @ 8:25 pm