Michael Vick's dogs on road to homes

RICHMOND, Va., May 5 (UPI) -- Most of the dogs seized from Michael Vick's Virginia dogfighting operation appear likely to live out their lives in new homes, animal protection officials say.

Of the 51 dogs found at the Bad Newz Kennel in Surry County in 2007, 22 are at a refuge in Utah and 25 were distributed among animal shelters for future adoption, the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch reported Tuesday.

The Best Friends Animal Society took in the hardest cases. The group agreed that the dogs can remain at the 33,000-acre Utah retreat if they cannot be rehabilitated.

Sharon Cornett, a board member of the Richmond Animal League, has one of Vick's dogs, Gracie. She said the 38-pound pit bull has adjusted to life in her house and to the company of her two other dogs and her cats.

Gracie made an easy transition because she was never used for fighting, being kept, instead, for breeding.

Best Friends said one dog has died, one is already in a foster home and 18 of the remaining 20 may be adoptable.

A judge ordered Vick to pay $928,000 for the dogs' care and rehabilitation.

Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, is expected to be released from federal prison in July.