DogTown Update: How the Vick-tory dogs are doing...
Many of you may have seen Friday's moving premiere of DogTown: Saving the Michael Vick Dogs and are curious as to what has happened to these amazing case files. Here is a little update for all of you.
First, all dogs are attending Canine Good Citizen classes that teach them how to interact and play with other dogs and how to act while on a leash. While they take these classes they remain on a leash and have some distance between themselves and other dogs due to history of aggression, but they are doing great and aren't showing big signs of aggression.
When they aren't in classes, they take trips down to Kanab Creek with other trainers and enjoy to swim in the summer sun.
As for the dogs...
Meryl, one of the toughest cases in DogTown because of her aggression, is making phenomenal progress. Dog Trainer Ann Allums said that she is now at the point that she can safely introduce Meryl to anyone and within a minute (and a treat), Meryl is in love with her new best friend. Meryl is working hard during her Canine Good Citizen classes (And showing much promise!). She is learning the basics of heeling, sitting and staying and is doing better and better with handling distractions. Not all serious stuff for Meryl, Trainer Ann Allums is teaching her roll-over and wave. She is progressing so well and showing improved dog-to-dog skills that the folks at DogTown are using her to be a first dog for the other Vick dogs to be introduced to.
Denzel, the very sick dog when first coming to DogTown, is doing well in his Canine Good Citizen classes and is very healthy and happy. He comes in every day to the kitchen, has his breakfast and then stretches out on the "dog sofa" for a 5-hour nap.
Georgia has been able to trust more of the DogTown employees beyond trainer John Garcia. She loves all of her caregivers now. She has turned in to an outdoors girl and wants to be outside as much as possible. And she also is a bit of a homebody, always ready to go back to her area for some rest.
Cherry is overcoming his shyness and progress in all walks of life. He's able to meetnew people and has a number of new playmates. He often comes in to the Dogtown HQ to hang out with the trainers in their office, which is a good sign considering the office is a hectic place, with lots of comings and goings and new people every day.
To learn more about the show DogTown click here.
To learn how to help the dogs of DogTown go to BestFriends.org
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8 Comments
great to see these dogs finally becoming DOGS
breaks my heart to see dogs fighting because a human is greedy
thanks for giving them a chance
Although I love this good news, I am still so distraught when I think of the unimaginable abuse these beautiful dogs suffered at the hands of evil men. So, my question is how do we know that Vick and his thug cronies haven't started a new fighting ring with new dogs? Are they all being watched or investigated enough? How can we help create and support new laws that have harsher punishments for abusive animal owners? How can the average person help these animals beyond donation?
Thank you to all those who have cared for and rehabilitated these dogs!
I didnt want to watch this at first. Then I said "well I just won't watch the beginning because I thought they would introduce the nature of them being there. Fighting. It breaks my heart to see these animals made to maim, injure or kill another dog. But I bit the bullest and watched it with tears in my eyes. Thank you so much Dogtown at Best Friends. Especially you John Garcia. Many thanks to all you do.
I live near where these dogs were held captive. It was on the news and still is here since Mike Vick is from this area. He has to give money for these dogs, but he is trying to declare Bankruptcy. The house where the dogs were kept was sold soon after his conviction.
I watched the show and was so happy they are on there way to being almost normal dogs again.
Great Show!! Kudos to the trainers.
I am always thankful when animals can be saved. The humans should be so severely punished they never recover. Even though these people are doing the best they can, they just are not equipped as Cesar Milan. I think you missed the boat when you didn't let him have this show. Then we really would have learned some more important lessons. You can't kiss a fighting dog and talk baby talk to it and expect it to really be trustworthy as well as trustful unless you have someone who really understands them and knows what they are doing. I can't watch anymore, but I do hope you do some good. It is possible Cesar couldn't schedule it. It would be interesting to know the reason. Thank you.
I saw the episode of Dog Town on Friday. I think its wonderful what Best friends are doing. My heart went to the dog who was so afraid of everyone, please help him.
Michael Vick and the others deserve to spend more than a few years in jail. And bankruptcy shouldn't be an option. He's rich. He's got the money. He chose to spend it the wrong way. So sad. He was so talented. Don't let anyone tell you that this is a normal activity in the south or any where else. It's inhumane and it's against the law.
I am a nurse and was talking the other day about the Vick story, and was appawled when I actually had people I work with say they didn't think anything wrong with dog fights. I let them know what I thought about it. I could not believe when they choose to work in the medical field where you are taking care of people that you would think it ok. To me that showed that they really don't care aobut the people they are just in it for the money. I lost total respect after that for them. And they were good at their job even if for the wrong reasons but still lost my respect now. And I agree, Vick should be behind bars a lot longer and should ahve other inmates do to him what he did to the dogs or let happen to them. they were way to leinent with him.
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