FL bill makes it easier to save "dangerous dogs"

a bill recently introduced in florida legislature is seeking to change the definition of "dangerous dogs" to make it easier for people to adopt dogs who've been involved in dog fighting.

the bill will allow animal shelters to decide on a case by case basis if the dog can be rehabilitated and eventually adopted. the move stems from the amazing story of 47 dogs seized from michael vick and are now making a huge difference in hundreds of lives.

hear that, hsus and peta? even the state of florida thinks that seized fighting dogs can be rehabilitated. why don't you?

vick, obama, and the phonecall

we've been talking about it.  you've been talking about it.

vick.  possible mvp.  the call from obama.  redemption via football?  what about those dogs?

this post from the best friends blog sums it up better than we can.

"the lost dogs" hits shelves

with michael vick on his way back to glory, and some people advocating that we just get over it already, the 47 surviving dogs from bad newz kennels are not so quick to forgive or forget.

but if there is one shining ray of hope in this story, it's that those 47 dogs, originally deemed "beyond rehabilitation" by peta and the hsus, have gone on to become "cherished pets, therapy dogs, and adored members of their communities," as jim gorant writes in his new book, the lost dogs.

the book has just hit the shelves at madcat, and it details the rescue, reclamation, and redemption of these amazing dogs who were given a second chance.

the "lost" dogs

the guy who wrote the "where are they now" article on michael vick's dogs has turned it into a book.

gorant writes about the amazing stories of the 47 "lost cause" dogs who were deemed unable to be rehabilitated by both the hsus and peta. now they have found new homes and are making a difference in hundreds of lives.

as gorant says, "pit bulls are not bad dogs, but they can have bad owners. and if there's one great result from the vick case, it's that animals deserve a second chance." we couldn't agree more.

where are they now

meet hector: a highly-social, non-aggressive pitbull who spends his days visiting nursing homes, hospitals and schools as a licensed therapy dog.

hector is so good at his job, he was recently honored with a prestigious service award.

he is also one of 47 dogs saved after they were seized from michael vick's home in 2007.

the question has been asked before: can seized pitbulls be rehabilitated? the answer is a resounding yes - even though peta and the HSUS took the position that vick's pit bulls were beyond rehabilitation.

check out the national pit bull rescue center for more info on demonized dogs and the efforts to end their abuse.