Save Vick's Dogs

Update as of 8/28/07: According to press accounts last week, Judge Hudson did not order the dogs killed, but instead ordered the U.S. Marshals to take possession of them and do everything necessary to protect them. According to a subsequent article on ESPN's site, the marshals deny any such order. Meanwhile, the ASPCA, which is being extremely tight-lipped on any details, admits to having been brought in by the feds to "evaluate" the dogs. Best Friends, an exemplary and truly no-kill group that offers sanctuary even to the "unadoptable," has offered to take all the dogs, but so far have received nothing more than an invitation from the ASPCA to "participate in the evaluations," and are seeking more information.

In short, the dogs are apparently not killed, but also not out of the woods, and lethal options are clearly still on the table. Please do everything in your power to ensure that not one dog, regardless of temperament, dies as a result of this abomination, since reputable and life-saving options exist.

Thank you! -- Mary E.


Unless something dramatic and historically unprecedented takes place in the next few days, Michael Vick's victims will be the only ones to die for his crimes. (See story here: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/22/sports/s142325D11.DTL )

While PETA (which advocates the killing of all pit bulls) calls these dogs "ticking time bombs" and the HSUS urges "mourning" them as if they were already dead, we demand that the U.S. justice system not compound the appalling abuse of these dogs by Vick by killing them.

Quite possibly most of these dogs are not candidates for adoption, though pit bull experts cite many examples of abused fighting dogs going on to be wonderful companions. However, it is only decent that any plea agreement Vick makes specifically requires him to fund the construction, maintenance and staffing of a secure care facility (perhaps on the former premises of Bad Newz Kennels) where the dogs can live in a homelike setting to the best of their capability with loving and savvy live-in caregivers. It is perfectly possible, and there can be no better use of Vick's ill-gotten money.

We therefore petition U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson to not follow the benighted precedent of killing these dogs, but rather give them and society true justice by forcing their abuser to make meaningful restitution to the degree it is possible.

Thank you.