[maryellen]

22 of the dogs are going to Best Friends sanctuary. 10 are going to Badrap and 4 are going to a place in Virginia into foster homes...

http://canadianpress.google.com/arti...KGUZbYepLzlcWQ

RAL to Help Vick Dogs
December 5, 2007

The Richmond Animal League is honored to be among an elite group of animal rescue organizations selected to help the dogs from the Vick dog fighting case.

Four of the dogs from the Vick case will be placed with the Richmond Animal League. All of the dogs will be transferred directly to foster homes and will not be housed at RAL’s facility.

Due to the ongoing criminal proceedings RAL has agreed not to disclose any information about the dogs. After the final sentencing in the federal proceedings, RAL will be allowed to discuss the dogs as we would any other dogs under our care, unless the dogs’ safety would be compromised. We will notify you when we are able to discuss the dogs in greater detail.

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Kelly, Director of Development at susan@ral.org or 804.379.0046 ext. 12.

[rebeccaannmeyers]

I hope they fry his A**

[Michele]

Originally Posted by rebeccaannmeyers I hope they fry his A**

This thread is about the dogs. There's a few "michael vick" threads on the forum. Do a search and you'll find them.

[Miakoda]

Here's comes the lashing........

BUT we don't have enough homes for the "pit bulls" that are scattered about the country in shelters and rescues as it is. Sometimes a bleeding heart only serves to hurt things instead of help. A kind release from this world is NOT a bad thing.

[Galadriel]

While I AM happy to see a more positive response from the masses about the dogs, I have to agree with Miakoda. They are pulling valuable time and resources away from adoptable dogs that don't have the distinction of being "the Vick dogs".

[Michele]

Miakoda: I respectfully disagree. I believe every dog that is rescued from a situation and can be re-habilitated, deserves a second chance. I know this world is over-populated as it is, I just feel that if adoptable, then find a home for the dog..

[maryellen]

i agree with miakoda on this one... after being in rescue for 5 years, it isnt fair that the dogs that have been sitting in foster care for years or shelters for months and months or years get put on the back burner for the Vick dogs.. everyone is going to want a Vick dog, and ignore the other dogs in shelters/rescues everywhere,..it happened with the Katrina dogs, now this.... and the worst part is the money involved... i notice no rescue except the real ones wanted the vick dogs from day one.... but once a million dollars was involved to pay for their care, rescues came out out of the woodworks to get these dogs...

[Michele]

I understand where you guys are coming from, I really do. Well, I guess I can only hope, right?

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by Michele Miakoda: I respectfully disagree. I believe every dog that is rescued from a situation and can be re-habilitated, deserves a second chance. I know this world is over-populated as it is, I just feel that if adoptable, then find a home for the dog..

I didn't say they couldn't be rehabilitated. In fact, I don't agree that they need to be rehabilitated. If they are just DA, oh well. That's not an issue to me. If they are HA, then they need to be PTS. Period.

The problem is that there is not enough homes for the dogs already in these rescues and shelters. So are they going to kill some of those off to take these in? Are they going to sacrifice mildly DA and non-HA dogs to try and adopt out gamebred dogs that very few people truly know how to keep and own properly? How many people are they going to have knocking their doors down to own one of "Vick's dogs"?

[Michele]

If they are just DA, oh well. That's not an issue to me. If they are HA, then they need to be PTS. Period.

i agree with this.

As far as Best Friends, which is where these dogs are going, I know that they do not kill dogs at that sanctuary and alot of the dogs end up living their lives out there if they are not adopted.

[maryellen]

um michele, dont forget these are PIT BULLS.. who cant live in a group together.... who are going to need solid kennel walls so they cant fence fight with other dogs.... they will never be able to be intergrated into the dogs that roam the fenced yards at BF, they will only be allowed to come out of their kennels for walks only and exercise, and minimum human contact, but will be delegated to living in a kennel 95% of the time and not looose like all the other dogs on the property..... i would rather they be euthed then live like that for the next 15 years.....

[Michele]

Knowing Best Friends, they will find a way if some of these dogs don't get adopted out. If they can't, they yes, i think being PTS is the best thing.

[MaryC]

I completely understand all of the concerns about the way too many very deserving pit bulls who are currently sitting in foster homes or shelters who don't get the attention they deserve but if these high profile dogs can become ambassadors of the breed and get the word out that these can become wonderful family members doesn't this help more in the long run? I would also like to add that believe me there is not millions of dollars going to the rescues to help support these dogs, far from it and they checked references from various sources before submitting the names to the USDA and the judge. Here is the link from Best Friends that gives a bit more detail about the process.

http://tinyurl.com/26fbmt

[Wiggle_Butt]

Originally Posted by MaryC I completely understand all of the concerns about the way too many very deserving pit bulls who are currently sitting in foster homes or shelters who don't get the attention they deserve but if these high profile dogs can become ambassadors of the breed and get the word out that these can become wonderful family members doesn't this help more in the long run?

Excactly what I was thinking.

[Miakoda]

Mary, the sad fact is that the people that want to get their hands on these dogs are not those who truly love the dogs. They are those who truly love what the stigma of owning one of Vick's dogs will bring to them.

Also, these are gamebred dogs we are talking about. Chances are, most will have higher levels of DA that many other types of "pit bulls" out there. For me I could care less. But the daily headlines prove to me that their are NOT enough responsible homes out there capable of handling and caring for these dogs properly. They aren't charity cases......they're dogs.

[MaryC]

I'm really not trying to be contrary or discount anyones opinions, I truly respect all of you and have learned so much from you in my short time on this list but I guess I'm a bit confused...what would be the alternative? Should they all have been euthanized? What message does that send? That dogs who have been bred for fighting can not be rehabilitated and become good family members with the RIGHT owner...and I don't disagree that good responsible owners are not always easy to find, but they are out there, and if we can show dogs being good citizens, and even therapy dogs doesn't that help to broaden the base of possible good owners? There are shelters and rescues right now that will automatically euthanize a dog known to have fought without any evaluation of their temprement. Is that the right answer? I may be naive, but I trust the people who evaluated these dogs and that they are going to the appropriate rescues who are able and willing to work with them to find them the right home. At the very least we know the history of these dogs. We can't say the same thing when rescuing a dog from a shelter. It is always a gamble taking in a rescue from anywhere but I have to be confident that we will see a positive outcome for these dogs. At least that is my hope.

[Miakoda]

MaryC, I'm not picking on you. I also love to read other people's opinions and beliefs as it makes me think about why I have chosen my own (opinions & beliefs). We can all learn from one another in these types of debates.

I would hate for them to be euthanized as I can most definitely see the message that it could send out....that "fighting" dogs don't make good pets. I totally disagree with that wholeheartedly. One only has to read and look through history of Ch. & Gr. Ch. pit dogs curled up in bed with their owners and their owners' children to know that that isn't the case.

However, in terms of their welfare I do believe that euthanasia is the kindest thing for them. I don't think for one second that all those dogs are going to end up in loving and responsible homes. To the contrary, they will end up in homes of people who think they can train out the DA in them or worse yet, living in a concrete kennel at a "no kill" shelter getting food and water once a day along with a nice hosedown as they spray the urine & feces out of its kennel. What kind of life is that? Do we honestly think that those dogs living out their lives with minimal human contact, little to no mental stimulation and/or physical exercise, etc. are happy to be alive? No, it's we humans that are justifying a different form of cruelty and abuse because it makes us feel better about ourselves.

[MaryC]

Hi Miakoda..I really don't feel picked on at all, so don't give that another thought! Hey...I've got very broad shoulders!!...and I agree with so much of what you are saying. In fact, the idea of them living out their lives at Best Friends does not seem like a solution, which matches with how I feel about "No Kill" shelters. Spending all of their days in a kennel is not a life. I deal with that daily at the shelter where I volunteer. We are a Low kill shelter, but not a no kill...when the time comes that there seems no hope that they will ever end up in a loving home those of us closest to the dogs help them pass over the bridge. That in my mind is the kindest thing in many situations. I guess as for the Vick dogs who are not at a sanctuary we will just have to take a wait and see attitude and truly hope for the best outcome for all involved.

[Rai_77]

I think this is awesome news, and I'm happy that the public will see that fighting dogs can be rehabbed. Proves that DA and HA are not the same thing.

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by Rai_77 I think this is awesome news, and I'm happy that the public will see that fighting dogs can be rehabbed. Proves that DA and HA are not the same thing.

I know, I know.....I'm going slightly OT.

But....why does a fighting dog need to be "rehabbed"? I've got a 15 year old dog that probably did see a match or 2 in his life and I've never had trouble with him. Is he DA? Sure. But he's also a ham to humans and the most loyal and trusting old dog I've had in a while.

However, I do agree that it's past time that the general public be made to understand that DA and HA are NOT the same thing nor does one lead to the other.