ASPCA to Evaluate Vick Dogs
Thanks to the Sporting News for this article.
ASPCA animal-behavior consultants to evaluate dogs seized from Vick property
Posted: August 27, 2007RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The government has asked animal-behavior experts to evaluate the pit bulls seized from Michael Vick’s property in southeast Virginia to determine whether the fighting dogs can be adopted or should be euthanized.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will lead a team that will assess the dogs confiscated in late April in rural Surry County, federal prosecutors said Monday. The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty Monday to a dogfighting conspiracy charge and faces up to five years in prison.Based on ASPCA evaluations, the consultants will make recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Attorney’s office. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ultimately will decide what becomes of the animals, which are being held at several unspecified shelters in eastern Virginia.
The evaluations are expected to take about three weeks.
“The public can be assured that careful consideration will be given to the ultimate disposition of the dogs involved in this matter,” the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement.
But animal-welfare groups, including the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have said that pit bulls bred and trained for fighting typically are, and should be, euthanized because they pose a danger to other animals and sometimes people.
In criminal dogfighting operations, dogs are usually tested for aggression, fighting ability and continuing to fight when hurt. Those that don’t perform well — and might become acceptable pets — are killed. Vick and his cohorts executed dogs that didn’t measure up by hanging and drowning.
“Every effort should be made to make sure that every animal can be saved is,” said Ann Chynoweth, director of the Humane Society’s animal cruelty and fighting campaign. “But again, animals that are bred and trained for fights are too aggressive to be put back into the community.”
Dog sanctuaries, which are scarce for fighting animals, also would deprive the pit bulls of a real life, Chynoweth said, because the dogs must be kept in solitary confinement.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
My heart breaks for these remaining dogs who may be worse off than the ones who were murdered. There is really no choice but to euthanize them. All they have known is fighting & killing & torture from their captors. May there be a special place in hell for people who abuse animals.
I believe he will go to hell. He destroyed God’s beautiful creations. Those dogs were born and died in a tragic situation. I’m glad they are resting now at Rainbow Bridge.
I have a poem that I have written about this Michael Vick situation. I felt that I should post it on here:
Michael Vick
The very thought of what you have done makes me sick.
I don’t know how you sleep at night
without images of an awful pitbull fight.
It is people like you that gives pitbulls a bad name,
and you act as if it is some kind of game.
I hope people see that pitbulls are helpless creatures
and not violent animals with fighting features.
How would you like to be electrocuted, hung, drowned or beat to death?
I hope the very thought of that makes you sweat.
I hope your career will rapidly descend,
as you think of the many lives that have come to an end.
I think changing your plea to guilty was not sincere,
when you thought of all the consequences you did it out of fear.
Nothing on this earth deserves what you put them through,
and I hope one day this will come back to haunt you.
I do believe that if not today,
you will definitely have your punishment on judgement day.
The only positive thing that has come out of this ordeal
is that now people know that pitbull fighting is out there and real.
Thank you DS for the moving poem!
I personally do not think it is fair for these dogs to die, because of the way they were raised. It was never their choice to begin with in choosing to fight to the death of other dogs. A dog does what their owner teaches them to do. When being put into a life or death situation whether it?s a dog or a person, of course there will be a fight back to defend oneself. The dogs Michael Vick trained were brainwashed if you will to fight other dogs as a means of surviving. If they didn’t, they would still be put to death, by Vick. In this type of situation its a fight to survive and be the last dog standing if you want to stay alive.
If these dogs were trained to fight and be in a combat situation, and animal activists think they’re not suitable to be around other animals or people, and it’s determined that they can’t go to a shelter or rescue, I think the time should be taken to retrain these dogs to work in a combative environment such as becoming a military dog since that is what they’re used to. This way they will not be put to death, but at least fighting for a good purpose – to bring better to our country.
Please sign this petition to have Michael Vick banned from the NFL for LIFE. What Michael Vick has pleaded guilty to is inexcusable – he has tortured and killed defenseless animals for his own entertainment. Not only was he involved in dogfighting, he funded it. Proceeds go to the SPCA.
Go to http://www.banvicknow.com.
I want to say Thanks to the Dog Service Network, I so completely agree. U know I sit here & watch the Animal Cops program & u always see them get fighting pits & instead of working with them they automatically euthanize them & that is SO unfair, u can see how sweet they are on TV too! I do think after extensive therapy that more than likely all of the dogs can be rehabilitated & have happy lives & homes. U just have to know your dog. I have a dog that is dog aggressive & I had to real slowly introduce him to a female that I got & that took us a while, but they love each other to death & are unseparatable. Also, I definitely signed that petition!