Love dogs? Watch "Dogtown." Hate pit bulls? Watch "Dogtown."

One of the highlights of this summer's TCA press tour was also a gut check. At the National Geographic Channel's session for the series "Dogtown," they brought in an intimidatingly muscular, battered-looking pit bull named Georgia. She was one of Michael Vick's dogs, a canine victim of the brutal dog-fighting business, rescued in 2007 in a famous case that put Vick in prison for almost two years. Vicious dogs, those fight-trained pit bulls, right? Go ahead and pet her, the NatGeo people said. So I did. Got down on my hands and knees, rubbed her belly, got my face licked. I guess the pink fashion collar should have been a giveaway. For all her strength, and her terrible history, Georgia was a pussycat.

Tonight on the National Geographic Channel, you can see the story of Georgia and the other Michael Vick dogs in a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming two-hour "Dogtown" season premiere, "Saving the Michael Vick Dogs." Whatever excuses the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback and his cohorts come up with, the dogfight game is just plain sick, and sickening, and parts of this show are hard to watch. You might want to just skip the next paragraph if you don't want to know the details.

Not only were these animals forced to fight each other, sometimes to the death, but their entire lives consist of relentless physical and psychological abuse. Not a moment of freedom, not a shred of affection. Losers were electrocuted, drowned or beaten to death. And it gets worse. Once Georgia finished her career as a champ in the fight ring, she was bred - over and over, to judge by the damage to her body, and likely by force, in a metal harness charmingly known as a "rape rack." Did I mention that someone pulled all her teeth to make it harder for her to fight back during this process?

 Have a great time in prison, Mikey! Don't drop the soap!

Fortunately, most of tonight's show is devoted to the efforts of the Dogtown team, part of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in rural Utah. Nearly 50 dogs were taken alive from Vick's house of horrors, and despite calls for them to be euthanized because of the danger they presented, the 22 toughest cases were taken to Dogtown in hopes they could be rehabilitated.

Tonight's show focuses on four: Cherry, a weak "bait dog," so terrified of life that she crawls on all fours rather than walk on a leash; Denzel, mysteriously ill in a way that suggests health care was not a priority for Vick (duh); Meryl, so dangerous around people that a judge sentenced her to Dogtown for life; and Georgia, so traumatized that she reacts aggressively to other dogs - or any attempt to move her food bowl. (Truth be told, the one thing I didn't like about the show was the way the producers switched to tabloidy black-and-white video whenever one of the dogs reacted badly. Seemed kinda sensational.)

I won't spoil the ending for you if I say that the solution to most of the dogs' problems is a combination of smart training and love, along with good veterinary care. Trainer John Garcia, an exuberant young guy with a genuine fondness for "pitties," is front and center with Georgia, and as they showed us at TCA, the mutual affection between man and dog can overcome a lot. A lot. Have your hanky handy for this one, folks.

 (That's John and Georgia in the pictures. The one up top I - ahem - borrowed from the Best Friends blog. Hope they don't mind.)

Those less inclined to feel for animals' pain may be less thrilled - Why do we care so much for animals when there are people starving? While there's not really space to debate that here, it's worth noting that $400,000 of the cost of rehabilitation these dogs comes out of Vick's pocket. Beyond that, there's the real value, I think, of mankind setting right what mankind has done so terribly wrong. But you probably haven't read this far if you disagree.

Vick gets out of prison in July 2009. Many of his dogs are already living with foster families, and let's hope they'll be living in permanent homes by then.

Comments

[PibbleDawg]

[quote] Have a great time in prison, Mikey! Don't drop the soap![/quote]

Let`s hope he does....over and over and over again.

To learn about Pit Bulls visit
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/section.php?id=5

For documented reliable research visit
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/default.asp

To follow the Timeline of the dogs abused by Vick
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/vick/

[tracey]

In my opinion, prison is not enough for the sickos involved with the pure torture of these Pit Bulls. I watched the special on Dogtown last night and cried tears of everything from anger, sadness, and joy. I watched these dogs behavior, they want so much to please, so loyal, so sweet. i hope the judge told Vick he could never own any type of animal ever again in his life!

[Laura]

I am very happy to hear that the dogs are being put in foster families during their rehab. I myself have worked with rescue pit bulls and other breeds. I also feel it is fitting that M.Vick pay for the abused animals rehab. I hope they are all able to find permanent homes and would take one myself if need be. I commend the efforts of the Dogtown team.
Laura

[David]

It does my heart good to see these dogs doing so well. I have a pit mix that I rescued from a shelter days before she was supposed to be put down. I suspect she was abused at some point, but she is the sweetest dog I have ever come across. Her and my Airedale Terrier and just the best of friends and get so upset when the other is not around. I was playing fetch with them last night and was so happy to see her out and running and having fun. Anyone that would hurt any animal is just disgusting