The Vick Dogs, 5 Years Later.

By Racheal Myers

            It is hard to believe that it has been five years since then Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick’s dogfighting scandal rocked the world of sports and animal lovers alike. In those five years, Vick has been to prison, paid millions of dollars back in former endorsement deals and bonuses to his ex-football team, and has signed to a new football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. He has even gotten a new family dog; news that is upsetting to many who believe that Vick does not deserve a second chance in pet ownership.

7 of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's property in 2007.

But what about the “VICKtims?” What happened to the dogs that were mistreated during their stay at “Bad Newz Kennels,” the dogfighting facility Vick was running out of a property he owned in Virginia? Many of the 51 dogs taken from the property were rehabilitated, and placed in loving homes.

As part of the five year anniversary of their salvation, seven of the dogs that were rescued by Pit Bull advocacy group BAD RAP reunited for a group photo taken by ABC News. All seven pit bulls, despite their horrendous upbringing, have become well adjusted, loving animals.  All seven have Canine Good Citizen Certificates. Three work as therapy dogs in hospitals and children’s literacy programs. One, Jonny Justice, appeared on the Rachel Ray Show and won GUND's Top Dog contest -- his likeness will soon show up as one of GUND's famous stuffed dogs (ABC News).

 “They’re very forgiving, and they all really enjoy other dogs, which is probably the other big surprise that came out of the case,” said Donna Reynolds, director of BAD RAP. “In fact, dogs were a comfort to them” (ABC News).

For more information on the Vick rescue dogs, view these pages:

·         http://vickdogsblog.blogspot.com/

·         http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/reunited-michael-vick-dogs-bad-rap-pit-bulls

·         http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/070717/vick_indictment.pdf

For a recap: After an April 2007 search of a Smithfield, Va, property owned by Vick in which dogfighting paraphernalia and severely abused dogs were found, Vick denied any involvement in the dogfighting ring, saying he only owned the property, and did not know what the tenets were doing while on it. These statements turned out to be false, and Vick was sentenced in November 2007 to 21 months in prison with two months of probation to follow.

Vick was charged with financing and operating the dogfighting ring, “Bad Newz Kennels,” but was never formally charged with animal cruelty.