Vick's Pit Bulls Could Face Euthanasia

California couple uses Michael Vick's dogs to prove their point

(NEWSER) - The pit bull has long been considered a breed prone to violence—a generalization the Michael Vick case did nothing to help. But a California couple is working to show people that the dogs have become victims of stereotype and, more importantly, widespread abuse. And they're using some of the dogs rescued from Vick's home to prove the point. The Los Angeles Times profiles the couple and their mission. More»

Fifty-plus dogs given second chance in new homes

(NEWSER) - Many of the pit bulls Michael Vick illegally trained to fight have better days ahead, the AP reports. Experts have evaluated the more than 50 dogs taken from the quarterback’s property—and only one showed aggression. The rest were transported to rescue groups nationwide; 13 took an unlikely cross-country trip to Oakland to be groomed for eventual foster care. More»

Disgraced QB paid his price, deserves a second chance

(NEWSER) - What Michael Vick did was pretty reprehensible, but he deserves a second chance anyway, writes Raina Kelley of Newsweek, simply because he’s paid the price for his misdeeds. “He lost his freedom, his job, his worldly possessions, his good name, and the esteem of his fellow players. I don’t know about your tolerance for pain, but that seems like an apt punishment to me.” More»

QB short on remorse, declined test 'to weed out psychopaths'

(NEWSER) - A potential deal between PETA and disgraced Falcons QB Michael Vick, for anti-dogfighting public service ads, is off the table, the animal rights group now says, and has been since December, Advertising Age reports. A PETA rep says they pulled the offer after learning from a USDA report on his dogfighting history that Vick "enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls and that he laughed as dogs ripped each other apart," the AP reports. More»

(NEWSER) - As he seeks to scrub his sullied image, disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick is in talks appear in public-service ads for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Advertising Age reports. “We want him to discourage people from taking part in dogfighting,” a PETA rep said of charges on which Vick, 29, was convicted. “Michael Vick sure can. He can say, ‘Look, I did it, I was wrong, and it ruined my career.’” More»