An animal behaviourist who worked directly with dogs from the Michael Vick dog fighting ring says it's possible to rehabilitate dogs in certain cases.
Recently the Chatham-Kent police seized nearly 40 dogs and arrested four people in connection to a dog fighting ring in Tilbury.
Animal behaviourist Stephen Zawistowski says he can't speak directly to that case but in the Vick case only one dog was euthanized in the end.
"It was about evenly divided between dogs that went into foster care, some to sanctuary and some will probably be in sanctuary-they're going to live out their life in a quiet place but there was no need to euthanize them," says Zawistowski
He says the proper facilities and expertise are needed to rehabilitate dogs in these situations.
"More places are developing the skills and the physical facility that's required for this and I think the public support has been important because the public has called for this and the public has been generous in providing supports," says Zawistowski.
The Ontario SPCA is making a request to euthanize 21 of the dogs seized as part of a Tilbury dog fighting ring.
