Vicktory dogs reunite at Best Friends Animal Society

In January 2008, Best Friends Animal Society took in 22 dogs rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. In March 2013, six of the Vicktory dogs (Cherry, Handsome Dan, Halle, Oscar, Mel and Little Red) returned to Best Friends to share their stories and meet the people who made their triumphs possible. This video shares that reunion.


The Vicktory dogs have come a long way since arriving at Best Friends. To look at their lives now, it's unimaginable that five years ago these dogs were the topic of national news and debate. Many thought they were dangerous fighting pit bulls that should be put to death for everyone's safety. Others looked at them and saw hope. Luckily for the dogs and the many lives they have touched, hope won.

Michelle Besmehn, Dogtown manager at Best Friends, says, "There were people early on who had an idea of what these dogs would be like; some people were nervous or scared. But we've shown that they're just like any other dogs."

"There are always going to be people who are afraid of the idea of 'fighting pit bulls,' or dogs coming from fighting situations," Besmehn says. "But these dogs have really opened up the opportunity to show people that they're just individual dogs with individual needs and different personalities."

To read more about the success of the Vicktory dogs, visit http://bestfriends.org/News-And-Features/News/Good-Newz/.

Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah headquarters. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation. For more information, visit http://bestfriends.org/.