Timeline

• April 25, 2007: Police and animal-control officers seize 66 dogs (53 pit bulls) and dogfighting evidence from property
  ownedby Michael Vick. Dogs are distributed to six different animal control shelters throughout Virginia.


• June 7, 2007: U.S. attorney's office, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Virginia State Police present warrant and search Vick's property.


• July 2, 2007: Federal authorities file court documents alleging that a dogfighting venture had operated at the Vick
  property for the past five years. The U.S. attorney's office files papers seeking federal government ownership of 53
  pit bulls that were among the dogs seized from Vick's property.


• July 6, 2007: Federal authorities now on the case, evidence of dogfighting in the form of animal remains is
  discovered.


• July 17, 2007: Vick and three other men are indicted by a federal grand jury on dog fighting charges for activity over
  a six year period.


• July 19, 2007: Nike suspends the release of a new Vick footwear line, but allows current Vick products to remain
  for sale.


• July 24, 2007: Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank holds a news conference and calls Vick’s behavior "horrific."


• July 26, 2007: Vick pleads not guilty in federal court in Richmond, VA.


• July 27, 2007: Reebok, Upper Deck Trading Cards and Rawlings Sports Goods ends relationship with Vick.
  Entering month four of confinement for dogs.


• July 30, 2007: Co-defendant Tony Taylor pleads guilty to dog-fighting charges and agrees to cooperate with the
  prosecution. BAD RAP submits rescue proposal to federal prosecutor, requesting permission to evaluate dogs for
  placement potential.


• Aug. 1, 2007: Surry County Animal Control Officer James Smith about the Vick dogs,“They are in good shape,” he
  said. “They are not violent to humans.”


• Aug. 17, 2007: Vick's other two co-defendants, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, plead guilty to dogfighting
  charges and admit to killing dogs "that did not perform well" by hanging and drowning.


• Aug. 20, 2007: Vick's lawyer, Billy Martin, says that Vick agrees to plead guilty to dogfighting charges. BAD RAP
  and the ASPCA agree to partner to evaluate the dogs.


• Aug. 23, 2007: Vick signs plea agreement and statement of facts admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and
  helping kill pit bulls. Dogs enter fourth month of confinement. PETA calls custody dogs "ticking time bombs" and
  advocates for euthanasia without evaluation.


• Aug. 28, 2007: ASPCA announces plans to work with BAD RAP to evaluate Vick dogs. Entering month five of
  confinement for dogs. All groups begin a 'gag order' to prevent news leaks or publicity that might compromise the
  legal proceedings.


• Sept. 3, 2007: BAD RAP officers Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds and colleague Justin Phillips from SPCA
  Monterey County leave CA to join Vick dog evaluation team in VA. Evaluations commence on Sept 4-6.


• Sept. 9, 2007: BAD RAP submits evaluation results and recommendations for disposition of individual dogs to
  foster care homes and to sanctuary care.


• Sept. 25, 2007: Entering month six of confinement for dogs.


• Oct. 1, 2007: Motion filed in Virginia U. S. District Court to move all but one dog to foster families or sanctuaries.
  Report reveal that only one dog displayed aggression towards humans and numerous dogs presented "no threat to
  other animals.'


• Oct. 16, 2007: Professor and animal law expert Rebecca Huss of Valparaiso University School of Law named
  guardian of dogs in Vick case.


• Oct. 17-20, 2007: BAD RAP officer Tim Racer returns to VA to accompany Guardian/Special Master Rebecca Huss
  in conducting Round Two of dog evaluations. BAD RAP works with Huss to arrange interim foster care of 16
  foster/observation status dogs so they can receive relief from shelter confinement. USDA approves interim foster
  care transport plans.


• Oct. 21, 2007: Three dogs quietly leave the shelters with east coast rescue groups. BAD RAP representatives
  begin cross-country road trip to bring 13 dogs to new lives with three different organizations on the west coast.
  


• Oct. 23, 2007: 13 dogs arrive in Oakland, CA and move into NorCA foster homes.


• Nov. 6, 2007: BAD RAP representative Nicole Rattay relocates to VA to begin six weeks of daily exercise and care
  for the dogs still remaining in shelter. Nicole's daily updates and observations of sheltered dogs offer invaluable
  insights that allow Special Master Huss to create placement matches with approved rescue organizations.


• Nov. 12, 2007: Deadline closes for rescues to submit applications.


• Nov 20, 2007: U. S. District Court orders Michael Vick to pay $928,073.00 as "restitution" for expenses incurred in
  caring for "the victim pit bulls."


• Dec. 3, 2007: Special Master Guardian Rebecca Huss submits recommendations for disposition of Vick dogs to
  Judge Hudson in Special Master Report Eight groups named to be permanent caretakers of Vick dogs.
  


• Dec. 10, 2007: Michael Vick is sentenced to 23 months in jail in a federal courthouse in Richmond, VA. BAD RAP
  reps Tim Racer and Nicole Rattay attend sentencing.


• Dec. 17, 2007: USDA signs 10 dogs over to BAD RAP's permanent custody, roughly eight months after being
  seized from Bad Newz Kennels. Dogs transition into family settings in preparation for adoption into qualified homes.


• Jan. 25, 2008: The final defendant (Owen Allen) sentenced, America gets its first glimpse of the dogs that were
  given a second chance.