A postscript to my commentary on Vick:
ESPN is reporting that 53 pit bulls seized from Michael Vick's property face a Thursday deadline to be claimed. If no one comes forward, they could be euthanized. No one has claimed any of the dogs, which are being held at several shelters in eastern Virginia.
Typically, when confiscated property goes unclaimed, the government asks the court to have the items declared forfeited. In this case, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will make the final decision on the dogs' fate. The problem is that everyone knows these dogs belonged to Vick and his cronies. No one is expected to come forward and claim any of these dogs as their pets.
PETA should. Considering that they have been utilizing this tragedy to publicize their organization since the scandal began, PETA should send its members to adopt these dogs, and then transfer them to one of the many pit bull rescues operating across the country. If PETA does nothing and lets these poor, abused dogs die, then they'll mark themselves as just another morally bankrupt, self-promoting, hypocritical self-promotion-machine.
UPDATE 9/3/07: The New York Times reports that the fate of the dogs has yet to be decided.