Dogs Seized from Michael Vick May Find New Homes

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, only one of the remaining 49 pit bulls seized from a home owned by former NFL quarterback Michael Vick at the outset of a dogfighting investigation should be euthanized.

That was the finding by a team of dog behavorial experts that was assembled by the ASPCA.

According to a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court, the dogs fall into five categories that include eventual adoption and specialized training for law enforcement work. Some of the dogs either exhibited fear toward people or suffered from a medical condition.

The motion doesn't indicate how many dogs were placed in each category other than to suggest one, identified as number 2621, is an immediate candidate for euthanasia because its aggression toward humans made a complete examination unsafe.

According to the motion, the dogs were put through a protocol of 11 exercises to evaluate their behavior toward humans and other animals.

The ASPCA had no immediate comment on the filing, and the U.S Attorneys Office handling the dogfighting case said it would have no additional comment.

The motion also requests that the court appoint a guardian to oversee the disposition and possible placement of the 48 remaining dogs.

The motion goes before U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who is handling the dogfighting case. He can either grant it with all its provisions or deny it.

The animals were among more than 60 dogs seized by local authorities during a raid of the Surry County property owned by Vick in April. They have been held in animal shelters in the area since.

The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three co-defendants pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges are to be sentenced before the end of the year. They each face up to five years in prison.

The four also all are due in Surry County Circuit Court on Wednesday to be arraigned on local charges, for which they could face from one to 20 years in prison.

Vick recently tested positive for marijuana according to a drug test that was administered by the court. This can have an effect on his sentencing since it was against the terms of his house arrest.

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