Post by michele5611 on Aug 27, 2010 8:34:48 GMT -5
animals.change.org/blog/view/vick_dogs_gather_to_thank_the_woman_who_gave_them_a_second_chance
special reunion of seven of Michael Vick's former dogs took place at the home of Bad Rap founders Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds earlier this month. The shin-dig was to thank Professor Rebecca Huss for all of the countless hours she spent on the case. Professor Huss and I were in town at the American Bar Association's annual meeting.
It was a sight to behold. We drank and ate as seven former Vick dogs frolicked with each other and their people. The Racer/Reynolds property abuts a golf course, so golf carts zoomed around in the background, which provided endless fascination to the dogs. I kept wondering what the golfers would think if they knew they were being watched by a pack of Michael Vick's former fighting dogs.
Before joining Best Friends Animal Society, I worked for the ASPCA. I was with the "A" when the Vick case broke and the ASPCA became involved in assisting with evidence in the case and evaluating the dogs. Dr. Stephen Zawistowksi e-mailed me, asking for suggestions on who might be a fitting special master in the case, someone who could act as a guardian for the interests of the dogs. I racked my brain, but one person stood out: Professor Rebecca Huss from Valparaiso Law School.
I first corresponded with Rebecca when she was writing a law journal article, Rescue Me: Legislating Cooperation between Animal Control Authorities and Rescue Organizations. She would be ideal in dealing with the minutiae involved in the case. More importantly, I was sure that she would give the dogs a chance. The U.S. attorney and the court liked her qualifications and contacted her. It turned out to be a perfect match.
Professor Huss took the time to meet each individual dog and decide what would be best for them. She spent sleepless nights trying to figure out where each dog would go and, if there weren't enough organizations to take all of them, which would be euthanized. She naively gave some interim rescuers her cell-phone number, resulting in some frantic 3 a.m. phone calls. Clearly, she was used to academia and not the emotional rigors of rescue, but she rose to the challenge.
The Bad Rap reunion for the Vick dogs proved that these victims deserved their second chance. The party was a true celebration. Little Zippy was especially full of energy. Bernice Mora-Hernandez, Zippy's "foster" mom, sheepishly admitted that the dog had consumed an espresso from Starbucks that she had left in the car, and the caffeine was kicking in. Pit bull on caffeine — oops. To everyone there, it was obvious that Zippy had her forever home with the Mora-Hernandez clan, despite Bernice's insistence that, if the perfect home came along, she'd consider letting Zippy go. Clearly her children, Vanessa and Eliana, were not down with the idea: Their hearts belonged to Zippy, even in her caffeine-fueled state.
Huss was moved by the gathering and the case. She stated that,"One of my own dogs is named after the dog (Rose) that was euthanized for medical reasons during the process. She is a daily reminder to me of the original Rose and all she endured."
I now work for Best Friends Animal Society, heading up the "Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog" campaign. Best Friends stepped up in the Vick case and received the majority of the "pancake" dogs — the incredibly under socialized and abused dogs —as well as the dogs that Professor Huss believed should spend their lives in a sanctuary. The sanctuary took in 22 dogs total. Many of them (including Oliver, who graces the T-shirt I'm wearing as I write this) have been adopted out. Others are still at Best Friends, where they share space with other victims of fight busts waiting for their forever homes. Lucas, one of the grand champions, acts as a greeter at the CEO's office twice weekly. Despite his scars, he's extremely handsome and well behaved.
According to Huss,"The Vick case showed how things can go right when everyone works together. The law was already in place to do the right thing — it was the fact that a lot of people chose the sensible and humane path that these dogs were saved." Saved to attend picnics and watch golf carts like regular dogs. Amazing.
special reunion of seven of Michael Vick's former dogs took place at the home of Bad Rap founders Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds earlier this month. The shin-dig was to thank Professor Rebecca Huss for all of the countless hours she spent on the case. Professor Huss and I were in town at the American Bar Association's annual meeting.
It was a sight to behold. We drank and ate as seven former Vick dogs frolicked with each other and their people. The Racer/Reynolds property abuts a golf course, so golf carts zoomed around in the background, which provided endless fascination to the dogs. I kept wondering what the golfers would think if they knew they were being watched by a pack of Michael Vick's former fighting dogs.
Before joining Best Friends Animal Society, I worked for the ASPCA. I was with the "A" when the Vick case broke and the ASPCA became involved in assisting with evidence in the case and evaluating the dogs. Dr. Stephen Zawistowksi e-mailed me, asking for suggestions on who might be a fitting special master in the case, someone who could act as a guardian for the interests of the dogs. I racked my brain, but one person stood out: Professor Rebecca Huss from Valparaiso Law School.
I first corresponded with Rebecca when she was writing a law journal article, Rescue Me: Legislating Cooperation between Animal Control Authorities and Rescue Organizations. She would be ideal in dealing with the minutiae involved in the case. More importantly, I was sure that she would give the dogs a chance. The U.S. attorney and the court liked her qualifications and contacted her. It turned out to be a perfect match.
Professor Huss took the time to meet each individual dog and decide what would be best for them. She spent sleepless nights trying to figure out where each dog would go and, if there weren't enough organizations to take all of them, which would be euthanized. She naively gave some interim rescuers her cell-phone number, resulting in some frantic 3 a.m. phone calls. Clearly, she was used to academia and not the emotional rigors of rescue, but she rose to the challenge.
The Bad Rap reunion for the Vick dogs proved that these victims deserved their second chance. The party was a true celebration. Little Zippy was especially full of energy. Bernice Mora-Hernandez, Zippy's "foster" mom, sheepishly admitted that the dog had consumed an espresso from Starbucks that she had left in the car, and the caffeine was kicking in. Pit bull on caffeine — oops. To everyone there, it was obvious that Zippy had her forever home with the Mora-Hernandez clan, despite Bernice's insistence that, if the perfect home came along, she'd consider letting Zippy go. Clearly her children, Vanessa and Eliana, were not down with the idea: Their hearts belonged to Zippy, even in her caffeine-fueled state.
Huss was moved by the gathering and the case. She stated that,"One of my own dogs is named after the dog (Rose) that was euthanized for medical reasons during the process. She is a daily reminder to me of the original Rose and all she endured."
I now work for Best Friends Animal Society, heading up the "Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog" campaign. Best Friends stepped up in the Vick case and received the majority of the "pancake" dogs — the incredibly under socialized and abused dogs —as well as the dogs that Professor Huss believed should spend their lives in a sanctuary. The sanctuary took in 22 dogs total. Many of them (including Oliver, who graces the T-shirt I'm wearing as I write this) have been adopted out. Others are still at Best Friends, where they share space with other victims of fight busts waiting for their forever homes. Lucas, one of the grand champions, acts as a greeter at the CEO's office twice weekly. Despite his scars, he's extremely handsome and well behaved.
According to Huss,"The Vick case showed how things can go right when everyone works together. The law was already in place to do the right thing — it was the fact that a lot of people chose the sensible and humane path that these dogs were saved." Saved to attend picnics and watch golf carts like regular dogs. Amazing.
I look forward to learning much here