Now that the dogs who were confiscated in the Michael Vick case will no longer be required to be held as evidence, Best Friends members are asking what we are doing to insure that they won’t simply be killed.

Best Friends believes that these dogs deserve the very best we can offer them. After all, they have been through so much, and have made a huge contribution to a new public awareness of the plight of animals bred and trained for fighting.

But the question of whether dogs like these, who have suffered so mightily at the hands of Michael Vick and his associates, can be rehabilitated, is controversial.

The Virginian-Pilot, which has been following the case as it has unfolded in Virginia, notes that:

“Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, which rescued abandoned pets after Hurricane Katrina, offered rehabilitation and its 33,000-acre property as a new home for some of the pit bulls.”

but adds that:

“People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States recommended euthanasia as the only option for dogs trained to fight.”

When Vick was arrested, and the dogs taken to local shelters, Best Friends wrote to the U.S. Attorney’s office and offered to take charge of all the dogs, conduct assessments that would give benefit of doubt to the dogs, place as many as possible in specialized care with our training partners and other expert caregivers, and bring any others who had any potential quality of life to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for special care.

Other organizations also offered to assess the dogs, and the federal authorities have now invited the ASPCA to take charge of the dogs and organize the assessments.

The ASPCA has invited Best Friends to send one person to “contribute to the observations and options related to disposition.” We are working with the ASPCA to better understand the structure of this arrangement. If we are able to make our recommendations directly to the federal authorities, and on a dog-by-dog basis, we’ll likely accept the invitation.

We’ll let Best Friends members know more as the situation develops and as we have more information.

August 26, 2008 : 8:03 AM ET
posted by: Buddy51722

I am very hurt and offended by some of the comments people have made against pit bulls. First, I like to say I own two pit bulls, rescued from a shelter, whom my family (two childeren under the age of one when I received) loves to death. They are great dogs and the children love them to death. I will admit I was nervous at first when my husband wanted one but after much research and inquiries I have to say it is one of the best choices we made. You individuals who are quick to judge should remember animals have rights too. These dogs are known for hunting but not people only animals and that is if they are trained that way. They were breed that way because they have a high tolerance for pain and their exteremly obedient nature to please their owner/s. With that said they are the best dog to have around children since they can handle the tail pulling, jumping on, etc, etc, etc... After much of the research I did golden retrievers and labs plus a number of small dogs were not rated very well among small children because they do not like being played with by small ones since they do not have a high tolerance for pain which causes them to snap very easily. DO YOUR RESEARCH these dogs are getting a bad name because of all the publicity the media puts on them but they always seem to leave out attacks from other dogs. Just like eveything else in this society everything is one sided. Just the other day a lady was walking down the trail and was attacked by a lab but did that go in the news NOOOOOOOOO. I will support any cause that works to the name of pit bulls in keeping them safe and useful in everyday society. However, just like any type of dog, animal or person if they cause a threat to our society I support the disposal of them.

I am very happy many of Michael Vicks dogs were able to be re-trained and used to good causes.

December 19, 2007 : 6:09 AM ET
posted by: claudia quiroga

I would know what happennend to this dog :Gypsy 0405

October 29, 2007 : 8:11 PM ET
posted by: teri_lawson

My understanding is Judge Hudson in Richmond, VA turned over the decision of what to do with these dogs to a professor from Valparaiso (SP?), IN. She has a lot of fancy qualifications - I just can't think of them off the top of my head. She has deemed a handful of them to be adoptable and others to be homed by rescue organizations until further rehabilitated. Applications to house these dogs are being excepted only until Nov. 10th, I believe. After the deadline, then it's back to the euthanizaion option. The organization has to be reputable and evaluated as well - so....is Best Friends "it"???? AND is Vick going to get tapped with footing the bill for whatever facilities are needed to properly house these pups - oh that would be SWEET!

October 7, 2007 : 3:21 PM ET
posted by: Vladimir

ASPCA evaluated the dogs on Sept 4-6, and now reccomended that 48 of 49 be placed: (1) Possible re-homing into appropriate foster homes for further observation and evaluation; (2) Rehabilitation as law enforcement dogs; (3)Placement in sanctuaries, which will need to meet USDA facility standards.

October 2, 2007 : 12:24 PM ET
posted by: wuzzysmom

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All but one saved. To borrow a line from Craig Ferguson, it is a GREAT day in America!

September 26, 2007 : 10:30 PM ET
posted by: Catlady47

Good to hear BF may be involved in the assessment of these poor abused dogs. I hope a good decision is made and that those cruel people pay for their crimes against these animals. I agree, Vick is sorry he got caught but not repentant for the pain inflicted on these precious iinnocent dogs. They all need to be punished severely!! We all must fight to stop this cruelty!

September 26, 2007 : 9:05 PM ET
posted by: Vladimir

Vick indicted on two state charges, grand jury declined to indict on eight other felony charges regarding killing of a companion animal. Judge Hudson imposed a curfew on Vick after 09/13 drug test revealed marajuana in his system.

September 23, 2007 : 10:44 AM ET
posted by: bookwolfphd

Isn't it interesting how people "find God" when they need something, namely the goodwill of others. I am all for second chances for individuals who are truly repentant, but i just don't think Michael Vick qualifies. He is sorry he got caught, not sorry about the lives he took, damaged....THE DOGS.

About the fact that these dogs are pit bulls. It amazes me daily that good, intelligent people see Pit Bulls as somehow different from other breeds of dogs. I just adopted a parrot (conure) with a bad past (taken from a hoarder) who has a problem with hands. Might have been poked, beaten, hit. Basically, ignoring bad behaviors and reinforcing good ones, he is slowly getting over his past. Why are people so quick to cast what are really great dogs into the lowest pits of Hades. If some pits are vicious....we made 'em that way and need to step up to the plate of responsibility.

Sorry,,,,,,,getting off soapbox now.

September 22, 2007 : 6:02 PM ET
posted by: aurora

I did read the article you suggested by Howard Bryant. It is scary that Mike Vick may get off with no sentence for his haneous crimes, just because he provides info on other fighters. Good if they get caught, but of course by no means should Vick, who never apologized for his treatment of his dogs, but conveniently found God just in time for all to let out a sigh of relief - PaLEASE! - by no means should be go unpunished, either by the NFL or by the Fed and State gov'ts involved. I'm just dying to know what's happening with the dogs, that's all.

September 19, 2007 : 11:09 PM ET
posted by: aurora

I'm scared for these dogs. I'm plowing through Nathan Winograd's new book "REDEMPTION"; the no-kill shelter policies in our country can be implemented but are not all in place yet, so all "humane" societies saying they are FOR the good of SAVING dogs are not doing that, and since these are PITS, I fear the antiquated and outdated methods of temperament testing will fail these dogs. I am sending letters to the judges in the case. Is BADRAP in on the evaluations? Why not Best Friends, or ANY organization that knows dogs, saves dogs, wants the best for all dogs?? I just don't trust the ASPCA, the SPCA, or HSUS to do the right thing.