Something's in the works

"The [Vick] dogs are being evaluated to determine whether they can be rehabilitated."

That's the word in Tim McGlone's article in the Virginian-Pilot:

After learning that the court would consider euthanizing the dogs, animal welfare groups have inundated the U.S. attorney's office and the office of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson with pleas to save the pit bulls.

The groups were particularly upset after the Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States recommended euthanasia as the only option for dogs trained to fight.

And an intriguing comment from BAD RAP's Donna:

"Thanks for wanting to nudge for TT [temperament testing]. There will be some news regarding this early next week, so pls stay tuned."

If the dogs in question were border collies, the HSUS and PETA would never have been so cavalier or so quick to condemn them. The dogs would have been evaluated by people with years of experience working with the breed. The Vick dogs deserve this chance, too. If they are great with people --- if they are as hugely people-friendly as authentic pit bulls should be, without fear or shyness --- they should be all right. What was it that Surry County Animal Control Officer James Smith said about the Vick dogs? "They are not violent to humans.” Gamebred dogs are generally among the friendliest, so there may still be a measure of hope that some of these dogs might live out their lives in good homes.

And if they are too messed up, too shy or too fearful to adapt to life off a chain, they should be euthanized. Just let the real experts evaluate them, and let the real experts make that call.