Judge Henry Hudson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved a recommendation by a guardian/special master appointed by the court that 22 of the 48 American pit bull terriers connected with the Michael Vick civil forfeiture action be placed with Best Friends Animal Society.

Valparaiso University School of Law Professor Rebecca J. Huss, in a Summary Report to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, recommended that 47 dogs (one has been euthanized for medical reasons) be placed with eight organizations, with Best Friends receiving the most dogs (22). The next largest group would be placed with Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls (BAD RAP) of Oakland, Calif. (10). Other organizations that would receive dogs are Richmond Animal League of Richmond, Va. (4); Georgia SPCA of Suwanee, Ga. (3); SPCA of Monterey County, Calif. (3); Recycled Love Inc. of Baltimore, Md. (3); Animal Rescue of Tidewater, Chesapeake, Va. (1); and PACK (Pit Bull Advocates for Compassion and Kindness), San Francisco, Calif. (1).

“The court has granted Best Friends the opportunity to do what it does best – provide a caring, rehabilitative home for these abused, homeless animals,” said Paul Berry, chief executive officer of Best Friends. “They deserve the very best that we can give them, and we are prepared to provide a safe place for them to stay for the rest of their lives.

“The pit bull is easily the most misunderstood breed of dog in the U.S. Unfortunately, it is the very loving and loyal nature of these dogs that makes them prone to exploitation.”

Huss expressed confidence in Best Friends and the other rescue organizations recommended for placement. “For the dogs that may need to remain in a sanctuary environment, although there will certainly be a period of adjustment, I believe that these dogs will not just survive, but thrive in that environment.”

The report was prepared during multiple visits by Huss to Virginia, where she interacted with the dogs and their caretakers, and spoke with animal control officers and numerous rescue organizations, including Best Friends.

In July, the United States filed a civil forfeiture action relating to approximately 53 American pit bull terriers located on the property of Michael Vick. The court appointed Huss as guardian/special master of the 48 surviving dogs.

Photos of happy, well-loved pit bulls who have forever homes by Molly Wald.

Click here to learn more about Best Friends Animal Society.

Click here to check out the latest Best Friends news.

March 9, 2008 : 8:45 PM ET
posted by: varda

Astrosmom -

Unfortunately, putting Vick into a pen with his former dogs would be more traumatic to them then him. Most of them seem to be big 'ole sweethearts waiting to blossom into lapdogs.

Thank God that BestFriends has got them now :)

December 18, 2007 : 12:02 AM ET
posted by: marciat

In a perfect world, Michael Vick would be remanded by a judge to "do time" at Best Friends, where he could learn and practice compassion for pit bulls/dogs. He should also be fined at least $100K for each of the dogs he killed personally. Dog fighting in Georgia also needs to be made a felony, not a misdemeanor. The very sad fact is that there are thousands of other such dog fighting operations in our country. This is Big Business, and it will take an end to the economic incentive to dog fight, and re-education of it's practitioners, to make it stop.

December 13, 2007 : 4:43 PM ET
posted by: carly

I am eternally grateful to organizations such as "Best Friends" for doing the neverending job that they do. I simply wish that Vick and all his ilk could get the same as they gave to those dogs!! I would be more than happy to be the one to throw the lousy cockroaches into the pits!!

December 11, 2007 : 12:46 PM ET
posted by: britt714

I am forever greatful to best friends for providng a wonderful home to these poor, mistreated, and misunderstood dogs. Does anyone one know if any of these dogs will be available fo adoption?

December 11, 2007 : 12:14 PM ET
posted by: veganmarcy

to all the people worried about "violent breeds", the only truly sick critter, and the most violent one by far, are human beings. and they are definitely the most impossible to train! but that doesn't mean i give up on all of them, either. even when i'm tempted to from %^&s like Vick.

on another note, any updates? have the dogs finally rec'd the confirm they're going to BF and the other groups? The article only mentions it was recommended.

December 11, 2007 : 10:52 AM ET
posted by: bpappas

This is so wonderful that Best Friends could be the ones to rescue these abused dogs. I hope Michael Vick will rot in jail. Brenda P

December 11, 2007 : 3:37 AM ET
posted by: astrosmom

23 months is a slap in the face. Put Mike and his whole entourage in a pen with his dogs. Let them get a real taste of what they created.

The problem goes so much deeper than the obvious abhorrent cruelty to the dogs themselves. This dog fighting, derelict culture that promotes even the ownership of these dogs like some twisted badge of bad-guy courage has falsely created wide spread fear within our society -- a lynch mob against these defenseless creatures. It is not the dogs that are dangerous, but the people responsible for their torture.

The laws are not anywhere near tough enough to make a dent in this culture. They will wear the 23 months in the jail with the same badge of courage -- more evidence of how tough they.

December 10, 2007 : 3:33 PM ET
posted by: canadianmomofmany

NOT ENOUGH TIME!!!! LIFE TAKEN SHOULD MEAN LIFE BEHIND BARS (no matter who you are!!!). No one has the right to take a life except for survival. Lock him up and remove the key permanently! Maybe that will send a message that the murder and pain caused by his actions and the actions of others is not going to be tolerated. They caused a lot of pain, terror and suffering to dogs who did not deserve it!!! He deserves life behind bars!!!! In memory of the countless pitties and other dogs that he and others caused harm to and continue to cause harm to, even today. IT MUST BE STOPPED!!!! AMEN

December 10, 2007 : 3:09 PM ET
posted by: deafk9s

From CCN.com 12/10/07

"RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) -- Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively.

Vick's stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

Vick was dressed in a black-and-white striped prison suit and apologized to his family and to the judge..."

December 10, 2007 : 3:06 PM ET
posted by: 1gambit

Mrut - this is from the UKC history on the American Pit Bull Terrier - "Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.

The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. U.K.C. founder C. Z. Bennett assigned U.K.C. registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett's Ring in 1898."

These dogs were never originally bred to be pinned against one another and made to fight each other to the death. That was not this breed origins. They wanted a loyal dog that was strong enough to protect their family. People used these traits to turn them into monsters. That is why they were/are used for fighting. They are loyal and do as they are told in general. Rottweilers were originally bred to drive cattle over the Alps.

As far as pit bull experts go, there are some that truly are and there are many who are not. For example PETA claims to be an expert on pit bulls, their solution, spay/neuter the ones with homes and euthanize the remaining ones in shelters so the breed dies off. So which breed is next on PETA's list? I do not claim to be an expert on pit bulls, I just know I have spent my entire life around them (32 years) and I have never been bit by one.

It is people like you who do not understand or take the time to educate yourself about a specific breed of dog. Just because your dog died due to an attack by a pit bull, does not make them all bad. I see where you are coming from, but just as with humans there are always a few bad apples that spoil the whole bunch.

In general everyone needs to understand that dogs bite. Period. Dogs in general are not aggressive. People make them that way by via neglect, abuse, force which is sometimes done unintentionally. Not all dogs get along. My parents beagle hates most other dogs. Some dogs are more dominant than others and will do what ever it takes to dominate the weaker dogs. This is not a breed specific trait, this is an animal specific trait as most humans do this too.

Mrut, please take the time to educate yourself about the various breeds of dogs out there, spend time in a shelter, join a dog club etc. You will see there are so many wonderful dogs out there, with so much to offer and many will amaze you.