Most Of Vick's Dogs Won't Be Euthanized

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.