2008 Woodie Awards
UNH alumnus finding new life for dogs on TV show
Feltner, Kerry
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: News
Many may remember when NFL quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting business leaked to the press in April of 2007.
Despite Vick's punishment, which included 23 months in prison, indefinite suspension from the NFL and the dissolution of his public persona, the true victims of this story are the forever-damaged canines.
These pets now seek refuge in southern Utah's Best Friends Animal Society, a facility where Michael Dix, a graduate of UNH's class of 1992, is the medical director. The refuge is will also be featured on the National Geographic Channel on the new series, "Dogtown."
"It is hard for me to say if Michael Vick is truly sorry for his actions," said Dix. "I sure hope so and I hope that his actions bring attention to dog fighting and help put an end to it. It would be nice if he realized what he did was wrong and he was sorry for it, but if his celebrity brings dog fighting awareness and puts an end to it, that is what matters to me."
Dix attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine after his UNH experience. He also completed the Colorado State Veterinary Medical Acupuncture course in 2001.
The National Geographic Channel created the "Dogtown" with the intent to follow the lives of abused dogs on their roads to recovery.
The sanctuary takes in over 600 dogs with the hopes of rehabilitating them to become adoptable in the future. However, this is not the case with all of the dogs, some of which will live the duration of their lives at the society.
The show highlights dogs whose progresses can be readily depicted over time. Each episode focuses on one or two canines with a rough past, hopefully seen again throughout the season with great improvement from the initial episode.
Each show relays a story of the horrific experience the dog endured and the various methods of treatment it will undergo.
There also are 1,000 other animals that reside at the facilities. The animals include cats, rabbits, birds, horses, goats and pigs.
Despite Vick's punishment, which included 23 months in prison, indefinite suspension from the NFL and the dissolution of his public persona, the true victims of this story are the forever-damaged canines.
These pets now seek refuge in southern Utah's Best Friends Animal Society, a facility where Michael Dix, a graduate of UNH's class of 1992, is the medical director. The refuge is will also be featured on the National Geographic Channel on the new series, "Dogtown."
"It is hard for me to say if Michael Vick is truly sorry for his actions," said Dix. "I sure hope so and I hope that his actions bring attention to dog fighting and help put an end to it. It would be nice if he realized what he did was wrong and he was sorry for it, but if his celebrity brings dog fighting awareness and puts an end to it, that is what matters to me."
Dix attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine after his UNH experience. He also completed the Colorado State Veterinary Medical Acupuncture course in 2001.
The National Geographic Channel created the "Dogtown" with the intent to follow the lives of abused dogs on their roads to recovery.
The sanctuary takes in over 600 dogs with the hopes of rehabilitating them to become adoptable in the future. However, this is not the case with all of the dogs, some of which will live the duration of their lives at the society.
The show highlights dogs whose progresses can be readily depicted over time. Each episode focuses on one or two canines with a rough past, hopefully seen again throughout the season with great improvement from the initial episode.
Each show relays a story of the horrific experience the dog endured and the various methods of treatment it will undergo.
There also are 1,000 other animals that reside at the facilities. The animals include cats, rabbits, birds, horses, goats and pigs.
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