This is a wonderful, and uplifting, article on the trials and tribulations that go along with rehabilitating rescued fighting pit bulls. A number of the dogs seized from Michael Vick’s, former football star, dogfighting camp in 2007 went to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for rehabilitation.

Vick’s former fight dogs live in a facility within Best Friends called Dogtown, and according to Besmehn nearly all have made major improvements since they arrived, both physically and emotionally.

Tonight you can watch Dogtown, on the National Geographic Channel, as it follows Cherry and Georgia, two of the surviving pit bulls.

Best Friends was criticized earlier this year when it took in the abused pooches.

“Definitely, there were groups that recommended that these dogs be euthanized, that they can’t be rehabbed,” Besmehn said. “For us, we’ve taken challenging dogs on a regular basis. We feel these dogs, at a minimum, deserve a chance. We’ve seen these dogs are doing really well with a little bit of patience. … They can make progress. It takes time.”

The full article is rather long but very inspiring and worth reading in full. It shows that these dogs shouldn’t arbitrarily be put down for a choice one human made that sealed their fate. Humans on the other hand…..

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Related entries» By category Abuse, Dog News, Friends of Dogs, Other Websites, Rescue Groups and Information.By tag Abuse, dogs, fighting, michael vick, neglect, pit bulls, rescues, shelters, television.

One Woof
9/5/08 at 9:39 am Kim & Coco

I love Dog Town and to read about the rehab they have given to the Vick dogs is amazing, however Vick should be required to shell out some of those hard earned millions ( I am being sarcastic) and pony to Best Friends for their rehab.

The case continues to raise my ire, I am shocked and appalled that educated people encourage and love to watch dogs fight. To me it must be the most horrific sight to watch a dog fighting to the death.

I wish I was closer to Dog Town; I would give them every second of my free time.