Dear readers, we know that this story is difficult. Best Friends feels as you do that animal welfare organizations are more effective when we get along and work together. In this case we felt it was important to draw public attention to HSUS?s policy on dogs from fighting busts because its clout and its relationships with law enforcement informs and justifies state and local animal control policies.

The court-ordered destruction of 145 dogs, including about 75 puppies, which were seized from a fighting dog breeding operation in December, was based on the faulty assumption that all dogs seized in dog-fighting related busts should arbitrarily be deemed dangerous and euthanized.

The decision to kill the dogs was supported by the largest animal welfare organization in the country, the Humane Society of the United States. Representatives of HSUS testified in Wilkes County Superior Court that the dogs had to be destroyed because they had been “bred for generations to be aggressive.”

HSUS reasserted its outdated policy, written more than 20 years ago: “Any dog who has been specifically bred or conditioned for fighting, or for which there is evidence that the dog has been used for fighting should not be placed for adoption by an animal shelter but humanely euthanized as soon as legally possible.”

A Best Friends Animals Society-led coalition offered resources to the county for evaluation, spay/neuter, and support in finding homes for qualified dogs. These animal welfare organizations, which have extensive experience with rescued fighting dogs, urged Wilkes County to accept their offer of support for an alternative approach, such as was used in the Michael Vick case.

The coalition includes BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls), Animal Farm Foundation, Villa Lobos Rescue Center, Downtown Dog Rescue, The Sula Foundation and Our Pack.

Although the coalition applauds much of the work the HSUS, a leader in the animal welfare community, has done on behalf of animals, it is disheartened and shocked it would testify in court for the automatic destruction of puppies and dogs who had not been given the opportunity to be evaluated as individuals.

"The Michael Vick dogs have proven how antiquated this approach is," said Ledy VanKavage, an attorney with Best Friends Animal Society.

In 2006, HSUS advocated that all of the dogs from the Michael Vick dog fighting case be put down for the same reasons they used when recommending the killing of the Wilkes County pit bulls. In that case, a federal court appointed a Special Master to oversee the evaluation of Vick’s dogs, all of which were adults. Many of the Vick dogs are now in adoptive homes, and at least two of the so-called “aggressive fighting dogs” are therapy dogs that visit hospitals to cheer up ailing patients.

“The coalition members and their supporters are urging HSUS to revaluate this policy and apply a more progressive approach that reflects the lessons learned by the animal welfare groups in the coalition, as well as other organizations that work directly with dogs,” VanKavage said.

Written by Best Friends staff
Photos by Gary Kalpakoff

As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

Coalition Contacts

Best Friends Animal Society http://www.bestfriends.org Barbara Williamson, (435) 689-0200 (cell) or barbara@bestfriends.org John Polis, (435) 644-2001, ext. 4858, or johnp@bestfriends.org

Animal Farm Foundation http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org Stacey Coleman, (845) 868-7559 or scoleman@animalfarmfoundation.org

BAD RAP http://www.badrap.org Donna Reynolds, (510) 441-6461 or donna@badrap.org

Downtown Dog Rescue http://www.downtowndogrescue.org Lori Weise, (213) 448-9961 or lori@modernica.net

Our Pack http://www.ourpack.org/ Marthina McClay, (408) 460-4244 or marthina@ourpack.org

The Sula Foundation http://www.sulafoundation.org Ken Foster, (504) 613-7370 or kenrfoster@gmail.com

Villa Lobos Rescue Center http://www.vrcpitbull.com/home.htm Tia Maria Torres, (661) 268-0555 or tiamaria@vrcpitbull.com

September 10, 2009 : 3:25 PM ET
posted by: doglover55

This is actually why the monthly donations that I had for HSUS was pulled when they backed Vick to be able to play football again -- I will never donate to them again. I love Best Friends and feel the way that they look at animals is the way that it should be. Every animal deserves another chance at life no matter what -- my Pitbull has taught me this.When he came to my husband and I he had been badly abused and growled at me --now with lots of love and patience he eats cheese out of my mouth (yes that is right out of my mouth) -- I will keep the list the orgranizations in this article and they will be the ones that I ever donate monies to. THANK YOU BEST FREINDS!!!!!!!!!

February 28, 2009 : 9:22 PM ET
posted by: Compassion Please

Source of my previous post: Copied and pasted from: http://www.dogsbite.org/blog/2008/10/flashback-best-friends-animal-sanctuary.html

February 28, 2009 : 9:18 PM ET
posted by: Compassion Please

Flashback: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Refuses Care of Pit Bulls Dumps Dogs in Nevada Las Vegas, NV - Best Friends Animal Society is reportedly the country's largest no-kill sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. The group operates a 33,000-acre ranch in Utah. Best Friends received some of Michael Vick's pit bulls -- 21 "sanctuary" dogs deemed too unstable for adoption. The group believes that pit bulls seized in dogfighting raids can be rehabilitated and adopted out as pets. DogsBite.org believes this policy is dangerous and irresponsible.

Best Friends has shamelessly capitalized on Vick's dogs. Each dog also came with a $18,275 dowry, as part of the sentence deal worked out with Michael Vick. The sizable press campaign around the "Vicktory" dogs has undoubtedly brought in substantial donations, and Best Friends has cashed in on the fanfare. Yet months before acquiring Vick's dogs, Best Friends refused to take in 40 plus pit bulls seized in their own state from a hoarder.

The 40 plus unimportant pit bulls were scheduled to be euthanized because no group would take the dogs, including Best Friends. But a small Las Vegas rescue, Bullie Buddies, wanted to keep the dogs alive and find homes for them. So Best Friends passed the Utah 40 on. Charlene Baroni of Bullie Buddies then said it felt like the dogs got dumped on her. It's seems, from reading the article, that Baroni had expected more from Best Friends.

DogsBite.org would like to state two points. First, Best Friends is unable to maintain its "no-kill" philosophy, which is used in fund raising campaigns. Bullie Buddies only found homes for half of the Utah dogs; the rest were likely euthanized. Russ Mead, general counsel for Best Friends, states in the article: "The issue, of course, is that two more weeks, or paying $2500 for two weeks, isn't going to help these animals. They've already had 40 days to find new homes."

This is exactly why the no-kill philosophy is problematic. Even the country's largest no-kill sanctuary did a flip-flop when confronted with "cost" reality.

The second point is that Best Friends has promoted Vick's dogs as a glamorous outcome to a difficult problem. Best Friends public statements and policies set a dangerous precedent. Shelters and rescue groups follow the leader. As a result, more and more animal groups believe that unstable fighting dogs can be rehabilitated and placed into private homes. This practice, however, places the safety of families and beloved companion animals at great risk.

Recipient Application for Vick's Dogs Rescue organizations that applied to receive Vick's dogs were required to carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance (Section 4-C). The agreement also prohibited using the dogs for fundraising purposes (Section 4-H): Best Friends states on their website that the agreement did allow "the groups to talk about the life stories of the dogs as part of general fundraising activities." DogsBite.org did not find this exception written in the agreement.

February 25, 2009 : 3:14 PM ET
posted by: lorelutzbailey

I had a membership with the Humane Society as well as PETA, but over time I did get discouraged with both organizations. They have a big name and try to get contributions, but they are not responding much to the individual requests of animal abuse. With the Vick's pit bull story I was totally turned off since I do have one who is one of my best dogs I ever had. I have rescued many dogs and cats. The dogs came from many bad circumstances and puppy mills (and they especially need lots of understanding and love.) I came to the conclusion that HS and PETA don't really need my contributions I can put them to better use at my own rescue and other more open-minded organizations.

February 24, 2009 : 7:21 PM ET
posted by: dick delson

I love dogs. I have three rescues. And prior to these three, I had another three. The only thing dogs want to do is love you. Treat them right and they will walk through fire for you. People like Michael Vick, good football player or not, are garbage. Keep an eye open for all the people who picket every stadium he plays in. If Vick had half a brain, he'd be dangerous.

February 23, 2009 : 12:56 PM ET
posted by: kayry

It's excellent to see such passion about this case, others like it for that matter too. Perhaps signing petitions, writing letters, phone calls etc, will force HSUS to re examine out dated laws.