Leo, Former Vick Dog, Featured on CBS

Our Pack’s Leo, the former Vick dog who is now a therapy dog, was featured on KPIX, the local CBS station, last night. Thanks to Len Ramirez for the great interview and footage of Leo at work! Watch the video here:


http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/video-on-demand/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5129010&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

SFGate Columnist Blogs About Leo

Recently we spoke with Christie Keith, the online pet-care columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle's web site, for an upcoming column she is writing for SFGate.com. Today, she posted a blog on the PetConnection.com blog about Leo, our former Michael Vick dog turned therapy dog, that includes some material that didn't quite fit with the article, but that she wanted to share:

Leo the Pit Bull ambassador.

What a dog can do that Michael Vick can’t
By Christie Keith
October 30, 2009

I know you’re all jealous of my life. Don’t try to hide it. Jetting from one exotic location to another, mingling with the pretty people, entre to the most exclusive events, access to the power brokers… who wouldn’t envy me?

Perhaps anyone who could have been a fly on the wall when I had to stop an interview in mid-stream yesterday to unwind all the Borzoi hair from the base of the keys on my keyboard. Two years of accumulation meant I’d hit critical mass and lost the “S” and the shift keys.

Fortunately I was interviewing someone who is as much a dog person as they come, Marthina McClay of Our Pack, the rescue group that turned ex-Vick dog Leo into a therapy dog.

Read the rest of Christie's blog post here.

Dick's Says No to Vick

Dick's Sporting Goods has refused to carry Vick jerseys! I just got off the phone with them and the operator told me that they are overwhelmed with nasty emails and phone calls disagreeing with their decision...she asked that we go to the Dick's website and voice our opinion. They are keeping a tally on the comments and if the majority wants his jerseys in Dick's stores, they will retract their decision.

Please take a few seconds now to visit their web site and voice your support for their decision to Nix Vick!

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/corp/index.jsp?page=contact

- Marthina

Vick's Victims

Commentary from Francis Battista
Cofounder of Best Friends Animal Society

I wanted to share this well-written and very appropriate commentary from Francis Battista. I agree with Francis and I feel that Michael Vick has not proven that he's changed before being accepted as a player for the Eagles. I don't feel that he's walked the walk yet and he's being prematurely accepted.

Leo

I don't think Vick should just skip along onto the playing field without a solid thought about what he's really done or some sort of real proof of atonement for these acts of violence. As Francis points out in his commentary, some of the Vick dogs are still recovering from what happened to them. Not all of the dogs have come out of this completely unscathed. I can't help but think of that while Vick throws the ball around.

The dogs know the impact of what's happened and through them, so do we. Here's the link to Battista's article:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090828_What_about_Vick_s_victims_.html

RIP, Jasmine

Our hearts go out to sweet Jasmine, her family, and our friends at Recycled Love. Jasmine was recently killed in an automobile accident.

Many of you will never forget Jasmine gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated and, in the process, becoming an ambassador for Pit Bulls everywhere.

We remember her with love.

A New Day for Pit Bulls

We are so proud to see Recycled Love's Sweet Jasmine make the cover of Sports Illustrated. We think they do really wonderful work. To see one the these wonderful dogs make it on the cover of this mag along with a fantastic article by Jim Gorant is truly a new day for Pit Bulls and also makes for a wonderful Christmas.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/