They are sweet beagles with their trusting brown eyes are getting their first taste of love and affection. Cops say they are the littlest victims of the vicious dog fighting ring run by disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick. Had the police not raided Vick's Virginia property, authorities' say the beagles would most likely have been thrown into pits and used as bait dogs to train Vick's pit bulls and rottweilers to be killers.
"The beagles are often used in fighting rings to help train the pit bulls to be killers," one shelter representative says.
INSIDE EDITION was the first to be given exclusive access inside the Virginia Beach SPCA as a team of trainers got the pups ready to be adopted.
The puppies have spent almost their entire lives in cages. For the first time they've been given the opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures of life as a dog.
Many of Vick's dogs were so abused they had to be put down, but the SPCA was able to save some rottweiler and pit bull puppies, too young to have been turned into vicious attack animals.
"Most of the dogs that are associated with this case have been so damaged that all options are off the table for them," says another shelter employee. "That's the real tragedy."
Vick pled guilty to unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and promoting dog fights. While he adjusts to life behind bars, the pups will find new homes and some caring owners to cuddle up with.