“DogTown” Shows How Michael Vick’s Pit Bulls Became Man’s Best Friends

By Rebecca Brody
14:47, September 5th 2008
35 votes
Vote this story
“DogTown” Shows How Michael Vick’s Pit Bulls Became Man’s Best Friends

Some save dogs for a living. They offer them medical care, restore them to health and teach them new tricks. National Geographic’s “DogTown” show returns with all these and much more tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

The two-hour season premiere of the popular series is titled “Saving the Michael Vick Dogs,” as it takes a look at the extraordinary techniques employed by the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah to save the pit bulls from the NFL superstar’s Virginia property.

“Despite the horrors they’ve experienced, these dogs have made astounding progress, proof that every dog deserves a second chance,” says “DogTown” producer Darcy Dennett. “Best Friends has rehabilitated thousands of animals, but even they’re surprised by their success with the Vick dogs.”

In April 2007, police raided Michael Vick’s property in Smithfield, Virginia, and found 47 severely abused and traumatized dogs. In addition to this, officials discovered buried dog corpses, which had been shot, drowned, hanged or electrocuted.

Last December, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback was sentenced to 23 months of imprisonment for operating an illegal dog-fighting venture.

In spite of the fact that PETA and Humane Society suggested the dogs be euthanized, the court sent them to rescue shelters. Best Friends took the 22 most difficult cases, four out of which represent the focal points of the “DogTown” season premiere.

Denzel, a black and white male who faced death because of a tick-borne parasite, which usually affects fighting dogs, was completely cured and is ready for adoption.

Cherry, a black male, who was probably used as a bait for other dogs, “was so terrified he’d collapse into a heap and we had to carry him everywhere,” said his trainer, Michelle Besmehn. Now Cherry is hale and hearty and enjoys playing with both dogs and humans.

Meryl, a brown and white female, was so violent that the court prohibited for her to be put up for adoption. However, she has become a normal dog now and “she will always have a soft, warm bed with us,” Besmehn says.

Georgia, a brown and white female is, on the one hand, the show’s most heartbreaking case and, on the other hand, the most successful one, as she was one of Vick’s best fighters and was relentlessly forced to mate. When she was found, she had a damaged jaw, a broken tail and puncture injuries. “All of Georgia’s teeth were surgically removed to keep her from fighting back as she was repeatedly raped,” says the lead trainer of this particular case, John Garcia. “The cruelty was unspeakable, but time, patience and a lot of love have turned Georgia into a big, sweet, slobbery cupcake.”



© 2007 - 2009 - eFluxMedia
dotclear

Other News in

OLPC Forced to Cut Staff

The growing financial crisis has taken its toll on yet another non-profit group, the One Laptop Per Child Organization. The OLPC organization pretty much speaks for itself and it is obvious that...

Digital TV Switch To Be Postponed

Digital TV Switch To Be Postponed

Obama’s transition team has asked Congress to postpone the switch from analog TV to digital, claiming that there is "insufficient support" for the problems consumers will experience...

Flynt and Francis Ask For $5 Billion Bailout

Flynt and Francis Ask For $5 Billion Bailout

During the financial crisis America is facing, many industries have asked for bailouts, relying on the fact that it’s the industries that keep the economy going, and that without a reason for...

Taylor Lautner, Still “Jacob” in New Moon

Taylor Lautner, Still “Jacob” in New Moon

  The Twilight series is one of the most successful fantasy book series, coming close behind such literary phenomena such as “The Lord of the Rings” or “Harry...

Mickey Rourke, Possible Villain in Iron Man 2

Mickey Rourke, Possible Villain in Iron Man 2

Hollywood has turned, in the last few decades, to a new source for movie scripts – comic books. Superman and Batman were the first superheroes who were the core of some of the most successful...

dotclear
Latest videos in Specials
And Finally... Ice Ice Baby.
Polo profits in Argentina
Billionaire Merckle's suicide
Trend Spotters Discuss the...
A Berlin Restaurant Goes...

dotclear
Specials You are here: Specials
» Specials   
E-mail To A Friend Print RSS Text size: Decrease font size Increase font size
dotclear
dotclear
dotclear
Most Popular in Specials
Obama's replacement provokes stormy showdown for US Senate

» read full story
dotclear

Interested In This Topic?

News Alert will keep you informed. Find out more.
dotclear
Photos Gallery
dotclear
Today's Latest News
OLPC Forced to Cut Staff

» read full story
dotclear