I just finished a Dec 29, 2008 Sports Illustrated article about Michael Vick's Pit Bulls and what happened with them. After the raid of Vick's Virginia farm, where 51 Pit Bulls were kept, bred, trained and fought, PETA and the U.S. Humane Society both agreed that the dogs were too violent and dangerous and should be put down.
PETA spokesman Dan Shannon is quoted as saying: "The cruelty they've suffered is such that they can't lead what anyone who loves dogs would consider a normal life." It was considered a waste of time and resources to try to rehabilitate these animals.
Luckily, not everyone felt the same way. People from the ASPCA, a group called BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls) and numerous others gathered together and lobbied the Judge of the case to allow them to evaluate the dogs on a one by one basis.
Of these 51 dogs, all but four dogs were sent to be rehabilitated in foster homes, dog sanctuaries, and family homes. Of the four, only one was put down for being too violent. Two died in the shelter and one was put down due to illness. Several of the dogs are therapy dogs and one is a part of Paws for Tales, a program that helps children read aloud.
Despite the success of the rehabilitation - funded by Vick when he was sentenced, to the tune of almost 1 million dollars - PETA's Shannon remains uncowed: "Some will end up with something resembling a normal life, but the chances are very slim, and it's not a good risk to take."
I don't know what the fuck PETA is supposed to be doing, but I suppose it's easier for them to kill an animal once it's rescued than to actually follow through with the work they are supposed to be promoting. Idealism can suck it.
Here in Colorado:
With her head on my foot, snoring soundly, is Leica, a rescued female Pit Bull from the Athens Co. Dog Shelter. Jesse rescued her from there a couple of years ago. She had been bred and abandoned and was extremely skittish and full of anxieties. The Dog Warden posited that she would likely be put down and not adopted out. Two years later she is possibly the sweetest dog I know. She is the cuddliest, lickin'est dog I have ever met.
The other day while walking Leica, a male of my species - not a man, certainly - was walking with his wife and small daughter. The little girl said "Doggie!" and was delighted to see Leica. The man rushed to get between his daughter and the obvious baby-killing machine we walked and said "No, that's a Pit Bull!" I was appalled and I said, "No, she's a dog." To which he began another round of stupidness, to which I favored him with the two-handed, double finger salute as we walked down the hill. I can only hope for his daughter that she will not grow up to be as ignorant as her dad. The girl was obviously in danger of having her dirty face licked clean.
The SI story can be found here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html
Sources cited in the article are:
http://www.aspca.org
http://www.badrap.org
http://www.bestfriends.org
http://www.recycledlove.org
http://www.ourpack.org
Pictures of the adorable Leica can be found in my photo section. Adopt a dog or cat, and as Bob Barker always said - don't forget to spay or neuter your pets!
Athens folks, is your dog the BOMB? The Best of Mixed Breeds? We'll find out soon, maybe this summer. Stay tuned!
I'm back in Athens soon,
- luvbug
PETA spokesman Dan Shannon is quoted as saying: "The cruelty they've suffered is such that they can't lead what anyone who loves dogs would consider a normal life." It was considered a waste of time and resources to try to rehabilitate these animals.
Luckily, not everyone felt the same way. People from the ASPCA, a group called BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls) and numerous others gathered together and lobbied the Judge of the case to allow them to evaluate the dogs on a one by one basis.
Of these 51 dogs, all but four dogs were sent to be rehabilitated in foster homes, dog sanctuaries, and family homes. Of the four, only one was put down for being too violent. Two died in the shelter and one was put down due to illness. Several of the dogs are therapy dogs and one is a part of Paws for Tales, a program that helps children read aloud.
Despite the success of the rehabilitation - funded by Vick when he was sentenced, to the tune of almost 1 million dollars - PETA's Shannon remains uncowed: "Some will end up with something resembling a normal life, but the chances are very slim, and it's not a good risk to take."
I don't know what the fuck PETA is supposed to be doing, but I suppose it's easier for them to kill an animal once it's rescued than to actually follow through with the work they are supposed to be promoting. Idealism can suck it.
Here in Colorado:
With her head on my foot, snoring soundly, is Leica, a rescued female Pit Bull from the Athens Co. Dog Shelter. Jesse rescued her from there a couple of years ago. She had been bred and abandoned and was extremely skittish and full of anxieties. The Dog Warden posited that she would likely be put down and not adopted out. Two years later she is possibly the sweetest dog I know. She is the cuddliest, lickin'est dog I have ever met.
The other day while walking Leica, a male of my species - not a man, certainly - was walking with his wife and small daughter. The little girl said "Doggie!" and was delighted to see Leica. The man rushed to get between his daughter and the obvious baby-killing machine we walked and said "No, that's a Pit Bull!" I was appalled and I said, "No, she's a dog." To which he began another round of stupidness, to which I favored him with the two-handed, double finger salute as we walked down the hill. I can only hope for his daughter that she will not grow up to be as ignorant as her dad. The girl was obviously in danger of having her dirty face licked clean.
The SI story can be found here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html
Sources cited in the article are:
http://www.aspca.org
http://www.badrap.org
http://www.bestfriends.org
http://www.recycledlove.org
http://www.ourpack.org
Pictures of the adorable Leica can be found in my photo section. Adopt a dog or cat, and as Bob Barker always said - don't forget to spay or neuter your pets!
Athens folks, is your dog the BOMB? The Best of Mixed Breeds? We'll find out soon, maybe this summer. Stay tuned!
I'm back in Athens soon,
- luvbug
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
serefina:
I use to live and work on a dog rescue with 200 dogs, 75% being Pit Bulls. They were some of the sweetest pups I knew.
charm:
been trying to eat like a normal person...i was healthier in my earlier sets.