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How Michael’s ‘Vick-tory’ dogs have changed lives since their rescue

Posted at 3:00 PM, Apr 23, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-25 00:18:27-04

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (WTVR) - Gracie the pit bull dog lives a pretty comfortable life in Midlothian, Virginia. It is a far cry from her last home, in Surry County, with NFL star Michael Vick.

Gracie and more than 50 other dogs were rescued from Vick's home in 2007 after he and some of his friends were arrested for their roles in a dog fighting ring called Bad Newz Kennels.

While some of the dogs rescued from Bad Newz Kennels had to be put down, others, like Gracie were saved and rehabilitated.

Seven years after her rescue, Gracie's elbows are the only physical reminders of her time in the dog fighting ring.

But this is not a story about dog fighting, it is a story of 47 dogs like Gracie. Dogs that defied the odds and went on to live amazing lives.

Gracie 01

The canine survivors have been nicknamed "Vick-tory dogs." Before Vick's arrest dogs involved in dog fighting were almost always euthanized. That is no longer the case.

Some more good has come from the Virginia-based dog fighting ring that made international headlines. We will explore how attitudes towards adopting abused animals have changed in the time since Bad Newz Kennels was exposed.

We will also see how some of Vick's other dogs changed the lives of the families who adopted them.

Click on the video for the complete story.