As the Vicktory dogs begin their healing at Best Friends, Paul Berry, executive director, explains why Best Friends offered to take them in and what lies ahead for them.
What was it like when the dogs first arrived at the sanctuary?
They were a bit weary from the trip, but lots of tails wagging. And for us, it was a mix of emotions, seeing their big smiling eyes against the scars on their faces from all the fighting. Most of all, we were just glad they were here and safe.
Why have pit bulls become the dogs of choice for dog fighters?
Ironically – tragically – it’s their trusting and loyal nature that makes pit bulls so susceptible to exploitation by people. Pit bulls are very eager to please, and the people who want to fight these dogs manipulate their loyalty and trust to try to train them into fighters.
The training techniques are very oppressive and extremely cruel. And most folks don’t realize that the vast majority of dogs bred for fighting don’t actually make the cut. The ones who refuse to fight are either killed or become bait dogs, or they’re just abandoned to the streets and end up in already overcrowded shelters. In fact, more bully breed dogs are killed in shelters than any other breed.
What is Best Friends doing to combat the horrible blood sport of dog fighting?
Of course, we need better enforcement of anti-dog-fighting laws in our country, and most existing laws need to be strengthened significantly. We’re very pleased that Best Friends’ model anti-dog-fighting legislation is currently making its way through the Georgia state senate. We’re hopeful that it will pass and serve as a model for improved anti-dog-fighting legislation in other states.
But dog fighting is a cultural problem of epidemic proportions. It’s now a billion-dollar industry, and it’s firmly rooted in at-risk communities in every major city in the U.S. So we’ll need more than just legislation to effect real change. Over the past year, Best Friends has been developing model programming that works with churches and civic groups in at-risk communities on the intrinsic relationship of domestic and youth violence – and their relationship to dog fighting in these communities. We’re very excited at the initial results and are intending to expand that programming into select major cities this year.
More than 20 breeds of dogs have become the targets of breed bans and breed restrictions. And pit bulls are the most commonly banned breed in a number of cities and towns around the world. What is Best Friends’ position on breed-specific legislation?
Best Friends opposes breed-ban legislation in all its forms and incarnations. Some communities have tried this legislation in an attempt to protect the public from so-called “dangerous dogs.” But breed bans just don’t work. The goal is public safety – for people and animals – and the problem should be addressed at its root causes with enforceable legislation aimed squarely at irresponsible pet owners and exploitive breeders and trainers.
Why did Best Friends make a decision to accept 22 dogs from the Michael Vick case when it turns down requests for the sanctuary to take pit bulls every day?
There was a lot of talk from other organizations about killing the dogs. That seemed entirely wrong to us. These dogs were the ultimate victims of a horrible crime that had become a national outrage. We could not possibly go along with the idea that they would simply be held as evidence until the court proceedings were over, and then be summarily killed. What kind of message does that send to local humane groups and rescue organizations all over the country who are doing all they can to save the lives of thousands of other dogs in similar circumstances? We needed to make it absolutely clear that there are real options, real alternatives, for the victims of these terrible crimes.
What will be the nature of Best Friends’ involvement with the dogs?
They'll all have very good lives, either here at the sanctuary or in new forever homes.
And yes, that means we're keeping the door open that some can be adopted. We’ve worked with bully breeds and dog-aggressive dogs for many years. And we’ve had very good success in rehabilitating many who have been as severely abused as these have. So we’re quite confident that in recovering their trust and then teaching them new life skills, many of them can be adoptable, given the right home environment. We’ll see how it goes, and take each one on a case-by-case basis, but our trainers are already making breakthroughs in just the few weeks the dogs have been here. It’s really amazing to watch them working together.
Written by Sandy Miller
Photos by Gary Kalpakoff
Read more about breed-specific legislation around the country and about the horrible blood sport of dog fighting.
The work of Best Friends is possible only because of your generous support. Click here to help us reach our goal of No More Homeless Pets.
To check out more Best Friends news, click here.
