the Vick Dogs

History Makers

"Although dogs don't tell stories, they have stories, and the stories help us understand."

This is a favorite line from Susan McCarthy's beautiful article in the BARk Magazine. She met the dogs who survived NFL player Michael Vick's dog fighting operation and wrote this piece shortly after the gag order was lifted. Susan reminds us how beneficial it is to tell - and retell - important stories. Storytelling shapes who we are as a culture, and more specifically, who we are as a culture of animal stewards. 
 
No group of dogs has made an impact quite like 'the Vick dogs' have. All odds were against them, but the right combination of people came together from many different backgrounds to save them, and by doing so, they were able to tell the world who they were. Hardly the cold blooded monsters they were once made out to be, most of the dogs streamlined into normal homes and have become cherished family members. Even those individuals who had been too conditioned to fighting to find new homes have shown us their exquisite people-soft nature thanks to the work of Best Friends Animal Society. 

We are so very proud to have been given the opportunity to participate in the evaluation, disposition, rescue and placement of these marvelous animals. As they changed the landscape for other dogs, they certainly helped change us into better human beings. 

Listed below are a variety of news links, government documents, print articles and photo essays about the dogs then and now. We offer these in hopes that the dogs' stories will be retold again and again ... All the better to help us shape a new understanding and reality for pit bulls and other beings plagued by abuse and misunderstanding. 

Above right: Former Vick dog Jonny Justice helping kids to read. Credit: Laura Moss for the Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar.

 

From the Adopters

The Vick Dog Blog

Books:

Saving Audie - A children's book. Why it's important to kids. Interview from: Best Friends Animal Society

The Lost Dogs - The book that brought the dogs to America's living rooms.

Melissa McDaniel's new book from The Photo Book Project offers info along with artful photos.This special PDF on the four dogs adopted from BADRAP is a keeper. The Vick Dogs

Television:

On PBS: 'The Dogs Are Alright' 

The CBS Morning Show reports on 'The Lost Dogs'

Jonny Justice on the Rachael Ray Show - LINK

Inside Bay Area at the Press Conference where we first intro-ed the world to the dogs.

Tim Racer on CNN when we first introduced the dogs to the world.

Photo Essays of the Dogs

Washington Post photo essay by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Carol Guzy

The world's very first peek of the ten dogs that came home with BADRAP - AP PHOTO GALLERY

Multi-media piece on the evaluations, transport and fostering of the dogs. Multi-Media Piece

Documents Submitted to the Courts Regarding the Dogs' Status

Evaluation Report

Special Master Report

Print and Online Coverage:

First published story of the dogs. This AP story was picked up by hundreds of papers and websites around the world.

The now famous story from Sports Illustrated

Jonny Justice on the cover of Parade Magazine

Jonny Justice in the US World and News Report

BR alum Hector in the news for his therapy work

Letter to BR from Hector's therapy dog (TDI) evaluator: Letter 

And, Hector just being Hector

SFgate. Vick's unpaid dues

East Bay Monthly covers Uba at Home

A lovely article from Bark Magazine

Local News:  SFGate.com, the Oakland Tribune and The Los Angeles Times

Dogtime.com Vick Dog follow up

Best Friends' story on Teddles and his Toddler, Sam

News Brief of the rescue, Contra Costa Times

Radio

NPR: A 3 minute story from NPR

 

Securing the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as a cherished family companion.