Pit Bull Evaluation
With overwhelming public concern in the fate of the dogs seized from Michael Vick’s Surry County, Va., property, we want you to have information on the upcoming evaluations of the dogs, as well as the nature of assistance we are providing to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, CAAB, executive vice president, National Programs, and science advisor for the ASPCA, will be leading a team of several other certified applied animal behaviorists (trained animal behavior experts who have been certified by the Animal Behavior Society) in conducting behavior evaluations of the pit bulls seized during the course of the investigation.
As part of this process, BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls), a San Francisco-based non profit organization that is an educational resource for pit bull owners and the shelters that house them, will be working with the ASPCA-led team to help identify dogs whocan be absorbed into experienced foster programs for further observation and possible re-homing into appropriate homes—one of several possible outcomes for these dogs.
“We greatly appreciate the trust placed in us by the USDA to ensure that these dogs are given every opportunity to have a second chance, and take this phase of the investigation very seriously,” said Ed Sayres, ASPCA president and CEO. “Fighting dogs obviously face a lot of challenges when considered for rehabilitation or placement but we will make sure they get the professional, thorough and detailed evaluations that they deserve.”
Said Donna Reynolds, BAD RAP executive director, “We’ve seen time and time again that by pooling resources, we can get more accomplished for animals. We’re honored to be a part of the ASPCA’s team effort and look forward to giving our best to the dogs. After all they’ve been through, they certainly deserve a fair trial.”
The ASPCA-led evaluation team will conduct several tests on these dogs, including their response to humans and other dogs, as well as their general reactivity and comfort with being handled. No further details on the specifics of these tests can be released at this time.
Once the evaluations are completed, the ASPCA will provide a final report to the USDA, which will contain the team’s collective recommendations to the USDA on the disposition of the dogs. Other than possible re-homing into appropriate foster homes, recommendation options may include rehabilitation as law enforcement dogs, placement in sanctuaries (which will need to meet USDA facility standards), or euthanasia. However, euthanasia is not the only recommendation or option that will be considered, as has been reported in some media accounts—the results of the evaluations will determine what those recommendations are. No dogs will be placed in private homes at this time. All placements will be made with, and through, experienced rescue, foster and sanctuary groups.
The USDA will review the report, and then pass on its recommendations to a federal court. However, much like the sentencing of a defendant, the final disposition of the dogs will be decided by a federal judge. At no time will the ASPCA take possession of the dogs; they will remain property of the federal government until their disposition has been determined by the government.
For more information on the ASPCA, or to learn more about staying alert to animal cruelty, please visit www.aspca.org/cruelty.
UPDATE: August 29 - The New York Times reports on our role in the investigation.
Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, CAAB, executive vice president, National Programs, and science advisor for the ASPCA, will be leading a team of several other certified applied animal behaviorists (trained animal behavior experts who have been certified by the Animal Behavior Society) in conducting behavior evaluations of the pit bulls seized during the course of the investigation.
As part of this process, BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls), a San Francisco-based non profit organization that is an educational resource for pit bull owners and the shelters that house them, will be working with the ASPCA-led team to help identify dogs whocan be absorbed into experienced foster programs for further observation and possible re-homing into appropriate homes—one of several possible outcomes for these dogs.
“We greatly appreciate the trust placed in us by the USDA to ensure that these dogs are given every opportunity to have a second chance, and take this phase of the investigation very seriously,” said Ed Sayres, ASPCA president and CEO. “Fighting dogs obviously face a lot of challenges when considered for rehabilitation or placement but we will make sure they get the professional, thorough and detailed evaluations that they deserve.”
Said Donna Reynolds, BAD RAP executive director, “We’ve seen time and time again that by pooling resources, we can get more accomplished for animals. We’re honored to be a part of the ASPCA’s team effort and look forward to giving our best to the dogs. After all they’ve been through, they certainly deserve a fair trial.”
The ASPCA-led evaluation team will conduct several tests on these dogs, including their response to humans and other dogs, as well as their general reactivity and comfort with being handled. No further details on the specifics of these tests can be released at this time.
Once the evaluations are completed, the ASPCA will provide a final report to the USDA, which will contain the team’s collective recommendations to the USDA on the disposition of the dogs. Other than possible re-homing into appropriate foster homes, recommendation options may include rehabilitation as law enforcement dogs, placement in sanctuaries (which will need to meet USDA facility standards), or euthanasia. However, euthanasia is not the only recommendation or option that will be considered, as has been reported in some media accounts—the results of the evaluations will determine what those recommendations are. No dogs will be placed in private homes at this time. All placements will be made with, and through, experienced rescue, foster and sanctuary groups.
The USDA will review the report, and then pass on its recommendations to a federal court. However, much like the sentencing of a defendant, the final disposition of the dogs will be decided by a federal judge. At no time will the ASPCA take possession of the dogs; they will remain property of the federal government until their disposition has been determined by the government.
For more information on the ASPCA, or to learn more about staying alert to animal cruelty, please visit www.aspca.org/cruelty.
UPDATE: August 29 - The New York Times reports on our role in the investigation.
Labels: Animal cruelty, Dogs, News
posted by ASPCA at 5:05 PM PERMALINK
16 Comments:
I watched Vick's public apology with my little son who USED TO wear Michael Vick jerseys to school. It is disturbing to think a certain percentage of the population is honestly going to be swayed by Michael Vick's "enlightenment" carefully crafted by his overpaid attorneys. Call me a cynic, but I don't believe a man who has been allegedly torturing animals since childhood coincidentally has a religious epiphany as a result of getting caught and losing his job. I hope I am wrong.
If there is anything good about the Michael Vick story, it is that there is an emerging increased awareness about animal cruelty and animal fighting. There is so much anger about this issue. If we channel it into a positive direction, hopefully, something good can come of it. However...
I think it is a sad commentary that we, as a culture, are using the Vick story to compare "What's worse?" "What's worse", we ask, "carelessly fathering illegitimate children, or dogfighting?". "Dogfighting or gambling?" "Dogfighting or rape?" "Dogfighting or racism?" "Dogfighting or hateful nationalism?" "Dogfighting or (fill in the blank)....?" The comparisons to dogfighting have been endless.
Dogfighting is one more piece of evidence our country is in need of a spiritual transformation (please note I said spiritual and not necessarily religious). Animals are sentient beings - they feel pain, and they suffer, just like we do. They are not more important, or less important than human beings, but like human beings, they are important, too.
Dogfighting pits one dog against another until one of them dies. The survivor gets his flesh torn off, ears ripped off, eyes pulled out, etc., and the reward for being "a winner" is to writhe in pain until the next fight. Enough said. The pictures make my flesh crawl. The losers are tortured, beaten, starved, electrocuted or drowned. For what? Because these poor creatures were unlucky enough to be born a dog!
Every major faith teaches its followers to be responsible stewards of animals and the Earth. Please help us get the word out that caring for animals, just like caring for people, is an important part of just being a decent person and citizen. If we make this a priority, there will be no more dogfighting horror stories, and no more pointless comparisons of evils. Let us all rise, together, to be better people than we are today, shall we?
Chaplain Nancy Cronk
Founder, www.AnimalChaplains.com
Nancy I can't agree more - it is our responsibility to stand up and speak out for animals and our planet. I often feel that I'm not heard when doing so but I don't give up. I just wish that there was more people like me and you.
I hope every effort will be made to save these dogs. It is the person who committed the crime that should be punished, not the dogs. Pitbulls have always been given an unfair rep. People seem to be afraid of them because they are strong dogs, but these dogs are also very loving, friendly and affectionate. I also believe that even dogs used for fighting can turn out to be very well adjusted and friendly pets. These dogs only fight to please their owners. A pitbull brought up the right way can be a very social dog. These dogs are smart and should all be given a chance for a new life. Some of them may need time to re-adjust and also to trust. These dogs need to be shown love. And I understand because of their strength and the 'ruff' way of life they have been forced into, it needs to be disciplined love. I truly hope that every attempt will be made to give these dogs a chance at a new life. Pitbull dogs are intelligent and are affectionate by nature. They could easily be trained for a new life. I think they could be very useful and productive. I remember reading a story not long ago about a pitbull saved from a drug dealer, who turned out to be the best drug sniffing dog the police ever had. That would be wonderful if these dogs were given the chance to start over. It should be considered that in a situation where a parent forced a child into criminal activity, the child would not be punished, but taken away, rehabilitated and given a chance at a new life. I'm sure everyone involved with these dogs will make every effort to save them from death. It would also be nice if the public could learn that pitbulls are not terrible dogs, they just need responsible owners. I send my prayers and best wishes to everyone involved. And ask that my sentiments be passed along to the person who holds these dogs fate in their hands.
I was very disappointed with the whole dog fighting ordeal; however, I admire Vick for taking responsibility for his actions. I am from his hometown but do not know him personally. Instead of adding to his heartache and scandalizing his name I have been praying for him and his family. When I feel myself becoming self-righteous about his wrongdoings I refer to Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged”. I have decided that I would use this situation as an opportunity to teach my daughter and special son about forgiveness and animal cruelty. My daughter, my special son and I will contribute to the well being of animals by donation and volunteering on behalf of Michael Vick and our hometown. I hope that others will do more than just say it is a shame what happened and try to make things better.
I am a long term member with the ASPCA. I urge the ASPCA to contact Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer on NGS, on rehabilitating Vick's dog. Non of these dogs should be euthanized! If that's the case, it means the ASPCA has not done their job good enough. I was shocked to see in one of the episodes on animal planet, that these so called behavioral experts or trainers from the ASPCA, considered euthanizing a dog for food aggression only!!!!! It was an employee at the ASPCA, who adopted this dog to prevent the ASPCA from killing it! The dog basically had to be rescued from the ASPCA! Some of these ASPCA trainers need training themselves from experts, and they need to educate themselves more and watch a Cesar Milan episode to understand that no dog should ever be euthanized. If a dog gets euthanized, it’s because the ASPCA trainers failed doing their job in rehabilitating the animal. If one of Vick’s dogs gets euthanized by the ASPCA, I will immediately cancel my membership, and urge everyone else to do so as well, as I am in no support of organizations that kills animals!
Nancy,
I agree wholeheartedly with your comment. I had just lost my beloved border collie to cancer a few days before an idiot (forgive me, but it's apt) gets started on "so, killing a baby through abortion is ok, but killing a dog is not?" Suffice to say, I hit him back with logic similar to the one you used here. Mine, of course, was fueled by the passion of my loss. Anyway, I hope this incident moves people to action and puts an end to cruelty of any kind to any living being, especially those who cannot protect themselves (children, elderly, animals).
I don't understand why people think that if a dog has been fought that they are unadoptable. They are uselly the best pets and the most friendly. If you know how to handle them then they are good with other dogs. I have saved dogs that were trained to fight and they have ended up, after some time and training, being the best pets I've had. I believe the people who put them down just because of how some one else trained them are just a crue as the owner.
Michael Vick should incur ALL costs regarding the care, training, rehabilitation and placing of the dogs found on his property. It's the LEAST he can do after the cruel way in which these animals were treated as a result of his actions. THIS should be his FIRST prioroty, not his public image and his backpeddling in order to save his career. He said in a press conference he wants to redeem himself....you can start right here, Michael. Save the dogs YOU put in this horrible situation to begin with.
The ASPCA has a job to do on this one! I agree with most of the bloggers here that the fighting dogs can be rehabilitated, but it will take a person with true
canine-knowledge to adopt any of them. These dogs have learned viciousness from birth. That's not an easy behavior to one, overcome, and two, deal with. Good luck to the ASPCA on this one!
Dogfighting & Human fighting (Boxing) what's the difference except the obvious, killing of life is the problem.
I think that it is very sad that such a rich man would stoop so low for some sort of sick satisfaction. I think any animal fighting is wrong and I support the ASPCA in their efforts.
I hope that the dogs, which were taken from Michael Vick's property will be assessed openly, so that we, the public would see what happened to them and see the process of evaluation.
Those animals have suffered so much already, they deserve to be approached with kindness and be given a chance to be rehabilitated
I hope that ASPCA will be:
-Filming the assessments
-Enlisting the help of Cesar Millan for the rehabilitation
-Making a season-long Animal Planet series out of the process
-Highlighting dogfighting
-Addressing breed specific legislation
-Addressing dogs that are considered pit bulls and how many are in shelters and what they're like when they haven't been trained to fight
I don't watch or read about dog fighting alot because of the horrid nature of it all.However the Michael Vick story caught my eye and my heart because my pit was killed this summer,I think alot of it had to do with the BAD RAP that these dogs are given.So what if he apologized?That doesn't change the fact of what he did or the fact that he knew that he was doing wrong while he was doing so.His apology was not because he was truly sorry for his actions,but because he got caught.If the truth be known,Michael Vick would still be fighting and torturing these animals if he had not been caught.Public icons such as him should be punished to the fullest extent of th law.Think of how many young people looked up to him,and then think of how many are going to follow in his bad example?
Mike vick should donate time and money to rehab these animals.maybe train them as service dogs?
i honestly and sincerely believe that ANYONE with the heart to hurt ANY animal for sport or pleasure especially for money is absolutely digusting and dispicable. in my opinion they should be punished to the highest extent and made to service the community's animal shelters and agencies in order to provide care for our defenseless friends. cruel and malicious acts against animals is one of the highest forms of murder and attempted murder- in my own opinion besides that of humans. only our animal friends do not have the ability to speak out against animal cruelty, but, our voices can be heard loud and clear so we might as well use them. i have two pitbulls of my own, one of 6 months of age and a year old. they are my children and i adore them more than anyone could possibly imagine. i didnt take them in to fight them or make them pay me back for the love, attention, money and care that i've given them. i still owe them much more for being my protectors and family as well as my best friends. i surely intend to make their stay with me a long, productive, enjoyable and fufilling one. ♥ how anyone could even have the slightest negative thought twords these creatures is absolutely beyond me. its horrible.
Michael vick is not sorry that he fought those dogs, he is only sorry that he got caught. if he did not get caught then he still would be fighting the dogs and hurting them. he is a useless excuse for a person. kids use him as a rolemodel. he is worthless.
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