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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Courts - "Motion suggests guardian to oversee dogs seized from Vick home"

"RICHMOND, Va. — Federal authorities on Monday filed a motion asking that a Valparasio law professor oversee the outcome of dozens of dogs seized from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's home."

So begins this AP story by Michael Felberbaum that appears in USAToday. More from the story:

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Richmond also asked that each of the 48 pit bulls be spayed, neutered and have microchips implanted, according to the motion filed in U.S. District Court.

The motion, which now goes to U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, requests that animal law expert Rebecca J. Huss serve as the guardian-special master to oversee the disposition and possible placement of the dogs.

If appointed, Huss would travel to Virginia to evaluate the animals and make recommendations on their placement or future, said Tom Shaer, a spokesman for Valparasio University School of Law in Indiana. There is no deadline for the process.

The court then would be responsible for carrying out Huss' recommendations.

Huss will not comment until her work is complete, Shaer said. But, he said, "her goal is, and the court's goal is, to find the best possible future for the dogs and the humans and other animals with which those dogs would come in contact."

Why Prof. Huss? The story does not go into detail, but take a look at her faculty page, and particularly her writings.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 16, 2007 08:06 AM
Posted to Courts in general