Trying to watch "Dogtown: Saving the Michael Vick Dogs"

[Myrina]

... on NatGeo. Anyone else watching?

I'm disturbed and turned off by the many interspersed dogfight snips they have embedded in the story, and also am seriously concerned that they are trying to rehabilitate a couple of the dogs they've chosen when they're so, so aggressive and volatile - even to the trainers!

Not sure what to make of it ... but am hugging my 2 doggies close tonight. :(

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. I've seen them do some amazing turnarounds on that DogTown show

Every dog deserves a chance. If the dog is a danger, it won't be adopted out.

[jbane]

2. Hang in there with that show.

They do incredible things with those dogs. A lot of love will win over even the worst of them.

[LeftyMom]

3. I know a few people who work there.

They're responsible and dedicated, and they know what they're doing.

Besides, I've seen with my own eyes that dogs from some pretty horrible situations can and are successfully rehabbed.

One of the Vick dogs that went to another rescue group here in California is now visiting hospital patients as a trained therapy dog.

[GOPisEvil]

4. PETA wanted all those dogs destroyed.

PETA is wrong. It's a good show. Also, there is an article on the Vick dogs in this week's Sports Illustrated.

[LeftyMom]

6. They support BSL too. They're wrong about a lot of things.

:shrug:

[GOPisEvil]

9. The Humane Society of the US also wanted the dogs destroyed.

I will confess to not really paying attention much to PETA's stances on certain things. In fact, I didn't know about their position on this until I read the SI article.

[LeftyMom]

12. True.

I think there was too much trust in certain big-name organizations of the "experts" who said that these dogs could not be rehabbed rather than the actual on-the-ground animal rescue people who were saying that they were helping dogs just like them successfully.

In many states it wouldnt' have even been a matter of debate, because these dogs would have been killed automatically by law. :(

[GOPisEvil]

16. If you'd asked my ignorant opinion, I'd have probably agreed with the experts.

That is why shows like the Dogtown special and the SI article are important. If even one of those dogs is saved, it's worth the effort.

[LeftyMom]

18. Absolutely. People normally only hear the bad stories, because they're "news"

[flvegan]

14. ...and a certain "employee" of HSUS got to listen to me scream at him

for a half an hour. I expect that in the future, this might not be their stance (not because of me, per se, but because of Best Friends' and BAD RAP's successes with Vick's dogs).

[LeftyMom]

15. Good!

The skates glide both ways I guess. :rofl:

[flvegan]

17. Oh yeah. He got it worse because I expect better of him.

[LeftyMom]

20. I should hope so.

On a totally unrelated note, did my email come through okay?

[flvegan]

21. Yes, thank you.

"Thank you" sounds a bit inappropriate, though. I suddenly feel like Charlie Harper.

[LeftyMom]

22. I just realized, this whole subthread is practically in code.

"I told that one person off for the one thing"

"Great! (Inside joke)"

"Did you get the email about the you-know-what?"

"Yes, and for reasons I can not specify it was pleasing."

I feel like I should call you on my shoe. :rofl:

[GOPisEvil]

19. I've certainly learned a lot about this breed because of Vick.

I'm sure I'm not alone, so something good came out of it. Glad to know you are holding feet to the fire.

[flvegan]

23. Oh, and I rub it in too.

When they first started talking about the successes of the Vicktory dogs (before Dogtown on tv) I would remind him when I spoke with him just how stupid they (and PETA) looked in light of this. Because donation dollars are so very important, especially this year, last time I spoke with him I asked him how many tv series they had. I mean, Sea Shepherd is an exciting reality tv show, so that's a no-brainer. Dogtown is another show about dogs. He got the point, but still told me to shut up.

In their asset column, though, they did help rescue a dozen other, non-fighting dogs from Vick's property. Not many folks know that. I believe most of them were beagles.

[GOPisEvil]

24. I have learned my something for today.

Seriously though, I keep pimping it, but this week's SI is really good. It's a 2008 wrap-up, with about a 6 pager on the Vick dogs. Sweet Jasmine is on the cover.

[flvegan]

25. I've read that story twice.

I think I'm going to pick a copy up and have the cover matted and framed.

[GOPisEvil]

26. I was hoping for a longer article.

I was really getting into it, and it just ended. I usually toss my SIs, but this one is a keeper.

[Robeson]

27. Nice job, flvegan...

...:thumbsup:

[flvegan]

28. He's got a wee bit of pull there, too.

;)

[LeftyMom]

29. !

:rofl:

[Shell Beau]

5. I can't even bring myself to watch it.

I have seen a couple of pics and that was more than I could take.

[GOPisEvil]

10. You should. It's very uplifting.

[Shell Beau]

13. I really don't think I can handle it. I know that

good comes from this, and I am happy about that. I just can't make myself watch.

[derby378]

7. We've rescued enough critters over the years as it is

Some were abandoned, some were neglected, some were abused. We gave them all a good home with plenty of food and lots of love.

[flvegan]

8. I saw it the first time around, and I think they show

the dogfighting bits to show just what the rehabbers are up against. And not to worry, they're the pros. They can rehab almost any dog. And if they can't, the dogs will still live out their lives at Dogtown.

[Shell Beau]

11. That is great.

I mean these dogs didn't do this to themselves. These dogs weren't given the chance. I just get so sickened at the thought of what these dogs were put through.

[LisaL]

30. Well hopefully they won't be adopting the violent ones out.

Vick's dogs are lucky. I've watched some animal planet shows where dogs that are rescued would be put down if they show aggression such as food aggression. Which always makes me sad, as in many cases the dogs were starving, which might have something to do with their food aggression. I guess it's too much of a liability for a shelter to adopt out a dog if that dog then attacks someone.