Dogtown

National Geographic has a new series on called Dogtown (Dogtown is located in Southern Utah and is the largest NO KILL shelter in the nation), and its first episode chronicles the rescue and rehabilitation of 22 of the 54 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. I realize that this is a television program and has been edited extensively, but these animals have my heart, and have had since the day all 54 were first seized. When animal rights groups demanded that all of these animals be put down, I cried.

It thrills my heart to see these dogs being cared for and loved despite their violent and dangerous reputations

The 22 most aggressive pit bulls rescued were relocated to Dogtown with the hope to rehabilitate these abused and exploited animals, and eventually find them suitable adoptive families. Of the 1 million dollars Michael Vick had to pay in restitution, Dogtown received only $400,000. The cost to save these animals will likely double that amount. It seems absurd to me that in July of 2009, Michael Vick will be released from prison, while a pit bull named Meryl has been ordered by the court to spend the rest of her life in Dogtown due to her aggressive behavior. This dog was not born to kill, she was trained to kill. While the staff of Dogtown promises that Meryl will always have a home at their shelter, it is not the same as having her own family to love her.

Another of these pit bulls named Georgia was apparently one of Michael Vicks "champions", forced to kill other dogs just to survive. This dog has the sweetest eyes, and truly seems to want to please her trainers and everyone she meets. As a champion, Georgia made thousands in the "pit", and made MIchael Vick even more money as breeder. It is estimated that her puppies sold on the black market for around $10,000 each. Michael Vick paid a vet to PULL ALL OF HER TEETH, so that when was strapped to what is called a "rape rack", she could not damage the male pit bull that was raping her. This angers my soul. This dog has been so abused my humans and by other animals, and it seems insane to me that Michael Vick is half way done with his prison sentence. These animals all have life sentences. Michael Vick, while paying some restitution, still has millions in the bank and in real estate. He damaged these animals and it is now up to good citizens to pay the bills to save these animals from being put down. This is truly a worthy cause, and I am thankful to National Geographic and the staff at Dogtown for working so diligently to save these animals.

Of these 22 dogs, 16 have a life threatening parasitic condition caused from dog fighting which will require expensive lifelong treatment. Again, Michael Vick is not paying for this (although HE IS RESPONSIBLE), but the families who bravely adopt these abused animals will lovingly absorb this unfortunate financial effect.