Up From Slavery, or Michael Vick's Dogs

April 25, 2007, was Emancipation Day for the 51 dogs at Michael Vick's notorious Bad Newz Kennels. In its December 29, 2008, Sports Illustrated summarized their lives since then.

The article is well worth reading in its entirety, but the most illuminating (and encouraging) fact is this: of the 51 dogs taken, 14 are in permanent homes, 33 in foster care, and only four are deceased. Of those four, two died while in shelter care, one was euthanized for medical reasons, and one -- just ONE -- was destroyed because it was too violent.

Not bad for a breed once demonized as inherently violent and banned in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The lesson is clear: abuse from people can make dogs bad. But almost every dog -- even those most abused -- can be rehabilitated.