Most Of Vick's Dogs Won't Be Euthanized

(AP)  All but one of the 49 remaining pit bulls seized from a home owned by NFL star Michael Vick at the outset of a dogfighting investigation have placement potential, according to a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court.

One of the dogs has a history of biting people and should be euthanized, according to the motion, which cites extensive behavioral testing done on all the dogs seized from the property in rural Surry County. It says the dogs were put through a protocol of 11 exercises to evaluate their behavior toward humans and other animals.

The behavioral testing was carried out between Sept. 4 and 6 by a team of animal experts assembled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

After the evaluations, the dogs were placed into five categories ranging from foster care and observation for dogs that show no sign of aggression to people or dogs and could be rehabilitated and eventually be adopted to euthanasia for dogs exhibiting intense aggression toward people or suffering from a significant medical condition.

The categories also include one for dogs that could potentially be placed in specialized training for law enforcement work, and Sanctuary I and Sanctuary II for dogs that either exhibit fear toward people and need to be socialized under supervision to dogs that react mildly to intensely to stimulus and require more extensive help.

Dogs requiring sanctuary would not necessarily be on track for adoption, ASPCA spokesman Shonali Burke said, but placed somewhere to live out their lives humanely.

The motion does not break down how many dogs were placed in each category other than to suggest that one, identified as number 2621, is an immediate candidate for euthanasia because its aggression toward humans made a complete examination unsafe.

The motion also requests that the court appoint a guardian-special master to oversee the disposition and possible placement of the 48 remaining dogs.

The motion new goes before U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who is handling the dogfighting case. He can either grant it with all its provisions or deny it.

The animals were among more than 60 dogs seized by local authorities during a raid of the property in April. They have been held in animal shelters in the area since.

Vick and three co-defendants pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges are to be sentenced before the end of the year. They each face up to five years in prison.

The four also all are due in Surry County Circuit Court on Wednesday to be arraigned on local charges, for which they could face from one to 20 years in prison.

[Krazcarl]

canny-apple I think what there saying is except for one they can be rehabilitated. Dog fighting is sipmple throw them together they will defend themselves yes never liked the breed like chow less there mean as heck but not built for fighting. Unless you lived way out in the country with no other dogs arond I''d pass. I used to raise boxers not the smartest dog but a true friend had a poodle once the smartest dog I ever had you could teach it a trick in 20 minutes mine was capable of 35, Just because he had all these dogs I''m sure some never got to the pit.

[candy-apple]

Can these "Animal Experts" GUARANTEE that these rehabilitaded dogs won''t harm anyone? If they are so certain of their rehabilitation why don''t they take them home to their families?

All breeds of dogs can be trained to be vicious. I could''ve trained my "mutts" to be mean if that was the way that I wanted them to be. I wouldn''t trust any breed that was trained to be the way these dogs were.

[olebd]

Olebd, your comment indicates that you don''''t know dogs very well . . .


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Posted by rodeo555 at 01:48 PM : Oct 02, 2007

And that''s fine with me.

[sunshie25]

P.S. I said d.a.r.n . I don''t think I would need to bring curse words into this, FYI.....

[sunshie25]

Imaok1~

Hmmm....where to start? First,maybe - Have you ever SEEN a 100 pound pitbull? That is pretty *** big, no matter that they might have a lot of muscle. Second, just because I am sympathetic to animals does not mean would I hug a tree. I would hug a tree even if I hated animals, ;)...so thanks!! And third, thank you, vbnvbnvbn, for the info. Are there any cats on that list ;)? Ignorance breeds far worse things than pitbulls do. Remember that,Imaok1. Have a WONDERFUL day!!!! :-)

[marcodele]

Save the dogs. Euthanize Vick.

[rodeo555]

Olebd, your comment indicates that you don''t know dogs very well . . .

[itgranny]

First off, i haven''t seen too many articles where a jack russel or austrailian shepherd has killed anyone. You can''t just figure the number of how many times a breed bites and count it the same as the number of times a breed seriously harms or kills.

Also, I question the stats of that ATTS test. Since the numbers of dogs in the talley, are so low (you would think there would be thousands and thousands of pit bulls that are tested instead of 542 as their site shows) it leads me to believe that the only dogs tested are the ones from reputable breeders that are breeding for good temperments, not dogs that are bred for fighting. Also, the test isn''t just aggression, it''s shyness and panic too (fear biters).

I have owned border collies for years. They rank around 80% in that test, worse than the pit bull. Part of their score is because they aren''t particularly fond of strangers and partly because they like to boss/herd people and things because that''s part of their breeding. They definately need to be watched. But even the rogue ones that do bite, don''t kill people.

[olebd]

There''s no shortage of family pets out there. Why take a chance with these dogs? There is no way these dogs can be "rehabilitated" fully.

[sandy19731]

Maybe Blackwater can use them.