Michael Vick's Pit Making Strides with Oklahoma Family

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The conviction of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for conspiring to run a dog fighting operation was one of the most publicized animal cruelty cases ever.

Officials seized about 50 dogs from his property and most have spent the last year on the long road to recovery, including a pit bull named Alf.

Molly Gibb of near Arcadia took in Alf and says the dog is adjusting, becoming more confident and less fearful.

"I don't have nitty gritty details on this dog in particular," Gibb said. "We can make conjectures but I think it's enough to know that there was horrible abuse."

She says when she began training Alf he was too scared to stand properly or rest comfortably and was leery of ceiling fans and doorways.

"His legs are actually underneath him. Before they would never be underneath him, so he couldn't sit. It was impossible to sit," Gibb said.

And Gibb says she believes pit bulls are unfairly maligned and too often are blamed for the actions of their owners who abuse and fight the dogs.

Vick was released from federal prison yesterday after serving 19 months for financing a dogfighting operation. He remains suspended from the NFL.

More on News9.com: Dog seized from Michael Vick recovers in Oklahoma