Michael Vick's pit bulls meet the public in Oakland

Five dogs that were rescued from the most notorious dog-fighting kennel in the country trotted out in Oakland on Friday to meet the public, wag their tails and try to dispel some longstanding human prejudices about canines.

They were, as always, man's best friend, even if man has not always held up his end of the relationship.

"This dog is somehow able to put its past aside and move forward," said dog lover Kim Ramirez, rubbing the ears of a 3-year-old pit bull named Teddles. "We humans can learn from that."

The dogs are pit bull terriers, among dozens rescued in a celebrated raid last year on the Virginia dog-fighting kennel owned by disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick. Ten of Vick's dogs were awarded to Bad Rap, a pit bull rescue group in Oakland that has spent months evaluating and socializing the dogs and placing them in foster homes.

----

"He's experiencing normal life now," said Ramirez, a Fremont resident who is looking after Teddles until a permanent adoption can be arranged. "He follows you into the kitchen. He's very gentle. He likes oatmeal. He likes rope toys. When you're a dog in a dog-fighting kennel, you don't get a lot of toys."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/25/BA1CUM7M3.DTL

Good to hear apparently many of these dogs will be able to lead a normal and happy dog life.

By the way, fuck him. I hope he enjoys every minute behind bars. My only regret is that his sentence wasn;t tripled.

be able to be "rehabbed." I'll have to read more on this story.