Evaluating the Dogs

We submitted a rescue proposal to federal prosecutor Mike Gil back in July 2007 when Michael Vick was indicted. We knew the dogs could end up destroyed if we didn't act fast. When the gov't agreed to let the dogs be evaluated, we were thrilled and quite surprised. Typically, fight bust dogs are only held as evidence and then destroyed once ownership shifts over to the authorities. In this case, feds chose a different path and decided to look at the dogs as victims.

Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds from BAD RAP flew out to Virginia in September along with Justin Phillips of Monterey SPCA to join a team of six other evaluators. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) organized the testing. Three days in the hot Virginia sun produced 24 hours of video tape a pile of score sheets and some surprising results: Only one dog was too aggressive to be handled. All the rest were quite safe to touch.

There were a variety of personalities in this group of dogs, but all were suffering from the stress of long term confinement. They'd been locked up for 4 months when we met them and most hadn't seen the light of day during that time. Many of the dogs were happy to see us, but a large number were really shut down and flattened themselves to the ground during the testing: They were just too frightened to move. This comes from living a life on a chain in the woods without human kindness, and then more isolation in the shelters. Interestingly, many of these same shut down dogs came to life when they were tested with other dogs. Instead of lunging or trying to attack, they were overjoyed to see the other dogs and sprang into play bows and happy, appropriate greetings. As the evaluations went on and more showed dog friendly behavior, images of dogs tortured at Bad Newz Kennels for "not performing well" (for not showing fight drive) became a little too real.

Two more months passed before paper work allowed these dogs to leave the VA shelter system. The newly appointed Guardian Master Rebecca Huss wisely called for another round of evalutions knowing that eight more weeks of shelter life could change the disposition of these dogs, so Tim Racer went back out to VA where the two of them reevaluated all 48.

While many from the grouping were under socialized and leery of people, twenty two dogs were were quite happy with people and dog social enough to earn new lives in foster homes with other pets. Sixteen were allowed to leave the shelters early in October in order to begin their healing in a quiet setting and fend off the damage of long term confinement. Ten of these mature dogs are now living in CA as part of BAD RAP's foster care program.

To help prevent the remaining dogs from being lost to kennel stress, BAD RAP representative Nicole Rattay moved to Virginia for six weeks to provide in-shelter care and assessment. The dogs still waiting to leave got their first baths, toys, treats, walks, hugs, comfort and companionship. Nicole's efforts were hugely important: Not only was she keeping the dogs sane, her daily reports offered gave Rebecca Huss enough information to help make appropriate placement matches with each of the eight organizations that applied to absorb dogs into their adoption programs.