12 dogs from Vick go to shelter

A dozen dogs seized from the rural Surry County property owned by Michael Vick have been transferred to a Virginia Beach shelter for evaluation and potential adoption, the Humane Society of the United States said Tuesday.

The Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it won't tell prospective owners which dogs were taken from Vick's property last April as part of an investigation into a dogfighting ring.

"We don't want to adopt these dogs to anybody because it's a 'Vick dog,'" said Sharon Adams, executive director of the shelter.

The dogs, including nine beagles, two Rottweilers and one 100-plus-pound dog of an unknown breed, had been in the custody of the Surry County animal shelter.

Tuesday also was the deadline for animal-rescue organizations to apply to take custody of the 48 pit bulls seized from the property.

Vick and three co-defendants pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge and are to be sentenced before the end of the year. Each faces up to five years in prison.

Vick and his co-defendants still face state charges in Surry County.