Judge Henry Hudson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved a recommendation by a guardian/special master appointed by the court that 22 of the 48 American pit bull terriers connected with the Michael Vick civil forfeiture action be placed with Best Friends Animal Society.
Valparaiso University School of Law Professor Rebecca J. Huss, in a Summary Report to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, recommended that 47 dogs (one has been euthanized for medical reasons) be placed with eight organizations, with Best Friends receiving the most dogs (22). The next largest group would be placed with Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls (BAD RAP) of Oakland, Calif. (10). Other organizations that would receive dogs are Richmond Animal League of Richmond, Va. (4); Georgia SPCA of Suwanee, Ga. (3); SPCA of Monterey County, Calif. (3); Recycled Love Inc. of Baltimore, Md. (3); Animal Rescue of Tidewater, Chesapeake, Va. (1); and PACK (Pit Bull Advocates for Compassion and Kindness), San Francisco, Calif. (1).
“The court has granted Best Friends the opportunity to do what it does best – provide a caring, rehabilitative home for these abused, homeless animals,” said Paul Berry, chief executive officer of Best Friends. “They deserve the very best that we can give them, and we are prepared to provide a safe place for them to stay for the rest of their lives.
“The pit bull is easily the most misunderstood breed of dog in the U.S. Unfortunately, it is the very loving and loyal nature of these dogs that makes them prone to exploitation.”
Huss expressed confidence in Best Friends and the other rescue organizations recommended for placement. “For the dogs that may need to remain in a sanctuary environment, although there will certainly be a period of adjustment, I believe that these dogs will not just survive, but thrive in that environment.”
The report was prepared during multiple visits by Huss to Virginia, where she interacted with the dogs and their caretakers, and spoke with animal control officers and numerous rescue organizations, including Best Friends.
In July, the United States filed a civil forfeiture action relating to approximately 53 American pit bull terriers located on the property of Michael Vick. The court appointed Huss as guardian/special master of the 48 surviving dogs.
The groups getting the dogs will also receive funding to help pay for their care. Dogs that were deemed adoptable will come with $5,000, while those that might need to spend a long period of time, or their entire lives, in a shelter or sanctuary will come with $20,000.
Vick has deposited $928,073.04 into an escrow account to pay for the evaluation and care of the dogs. He's also scheduled to be sentenced Monday after pleading guilty Aug. 27 to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. Two co-defendants were sentenced last week to 18 and 21 months in prison.
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Originally Posted by Grace
12/02
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