September 13, 2020. Goodbye to the last of the Vicktory Dogs.
Another legend has ascended.
Rest In Peace Shadow.
Another legend has ascended.
Rest In Peace Shadow.
SHADOW 2020
SHADOW 2007
| 47 dogs were taken from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels on Moonlight Drive in Southern Virginia in 2007. Best Friends gave 22 of the most challenging cases a place to recover. Time and illness have now claimed all, given them their wings, and set them free. |
When the Bad Newz Kennels story broke something in me went white hot with rage. Revelations of the horrors visited on these innocents and remnants found of their hell on earth - nooses, chains, blood spatters, claw marks - the thought of their pain, their helpless terror pierced my soul. That fury would not go away and I didn’t know what to do with it. I channeled it into creating a comp of a book cover; for a book that never happened. I couldn't get enough of the story of these pit bull survivors; hours spent reading about them, searching for images of them, Photoshopping them into puzzle pieces shaped to make a ‘V’. Over the days and weeks of moving their faces from one spot to another resizing and cropping and color correcting each survivor to get the best ‘V’, the Vicktory sibling's names etched crevices in my brain and most will stay with me as long as I have memory.
Now that the last of the Vicktory Dogs has gone over the Rainbow Bridge, there won’t be updates for me to soak up. No more new videos or interviews to play more than once. But from time to time I will always reminisce over these beautiful dogs, tears will always come. Their brave hearts leave me with an ache in my heart and deep awe over their remarkable courage and unbreakable spirit.
Now that the last of the Vicktory Dogs has gone over the Rainbow Bridge, there won’t be updates for me to soak up. No more new videos or interviews to play more than once. But from time to time I will always reminisce over these beautiful dogs, tears will always come. Their brave hearts leave me with an ache in my heart and deep awe over their remarkable courage and unbreakable spirit.
Don't. Give. Up. You've got a reason to live.
These pitbulls overcame and conquered evil. They journeyed from victim to survivor to thriver becoming teachers of love and resilience; becoming ambassadors for the breed. Their stories have helped to change policies and law just by becoming the loving creatures they were always meant to be.
The game-changing legacy the Vicktory dogs leave is a shift in the public perception of dogs freed from fighting rings. They changed hearts and minds by showing the world that rehabilitation after trauma is real. Their valiant resilience cast a shadow coast to coast and other dogs now live because of the magnificent 47.
Judge the deed not the breed.
Run free you beautiful souls. Thank you for changing the world.
The game-changing legacy the Vicktory dogs leave is a shift in the public perception of dogs freed from fighting rings. They changed hearts and minds by showing the world that rehabilitation after trauma is real. Their valiant resilience cast a shadow coast to coast and other dogs now live because of the magnificent 47.
Judge the deed not the breed.
Run free you beautiful souls. Thank you for changing the world.
The Washington Post tracked down all 47 dogs rescued 13 years ago
to find out about their post adoption lives:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/sports/michael-vick-dogfighting-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR2Jyqqu0krqxkMS2UegRoxDSlpZIl9e2uQ6rwk2tUyQ6RQK1BEKnxSndUA
TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Alf, Audie, BONITA, CHERRY, Chuckie, CURLY, DENZEL, ELLEN
Ernie, Frodo, GEORGIA, Ginger, Grace, Gracie, HALLE, HANDSOME DAN
Harriet, Hazel, Hector, Iggy, Jhumpa Jones, Jonny Justice, LANCE, LAYLA
Leo, LITTLE RED, LUCAS, Makavelli, MEL, MERYL, MYA, OLIVER
OSCAR, Piper, RAY, Red, Seven, SHADOW, SQUEAKER, Stella,
Sweet Jasmine, Sweet Pea, Teddles, TUG, Uba, WILLIE, Zippy
to find out about their post adoption lives:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/sports/michael-vick-dogfighting-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR2Jyqqu0krqxkMS2UegRoxDSlpZIl9e2uQ6rwk2tUyQ6RQK1BEKnxSndUA
TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Alf, Audie, BONITA, CHERRY, Chuckie, CURLY, DENZEL, ELLEN
Ernie, Frodo, GEORGIA, Ginger, Grace, Gracie, HALLE, HANDSOME DAN
Harriet, Hazel, Hector, Iggy, Jhumpa Jones, Jonny Justice, LANCE, LAYLA
Leo, LITTLE RED, LUCAS, Makavelli, MEL, MERYL, MYA, OLIVER
OSCAR, Piper, RAY, Red, Seven, SHADOW, SQUEAKER, Stella,
Sweet Jasmine, Sweet Pea, Teddles, TUG, Uba, WILLIE, Zippy
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