ohmidog!

Since 1999, BAD RAP has been working to rehabilitate pit bulls and their image – including some of those seized from Michael Vick’s Virginia estate/dogfighting ring.

While Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah took in the toughest cases — including the vicious beast pictured above — BAD RAP took in 13 of the Vick dogs, and so far homes have been found for ten of them, according to a profile of the group in last week’s Los Angeles Times.

The Vick dogs are among more than 400 pit bulls BAD RAP founders Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds have rescued since they started picking up strays in Chicago on winter nights.

After relocating to Oakland, the two commercial artists focused their rescue efforts on pits and formed Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls, or BAD RAP, to help reverse the dogs’ undeserved image.

“I give BAD RAP a lot of credit for what was accomplished with the Vick dogs,” said Rebecca Huss, a Valparaiso University law professor who was appointed by federal prosecutors to be guardian of the Vick dogs. “They were there at the forefront.”

Racer and Reynolds point out that a few generations ago pit bulls were considered America’s dog: The dogs helped sell bonds during World War I, were used to advertise RCA record players, and one, Petie, served as the mascot of “The Little Rascals,” the popular children’s TV show.

Now, thanks to misguided breeding and training, the animals are often raised to fight. They are by far the most commonly found breed in shelters nationwide, and hundreds of thousands are euthanized each year.

Only one of the Vick dogs was put down because of its temperament. Twenty-two, deemed either unsocialized or dog-aggressive, were sent to the Best Friends. The rest were placed with other groups, including Baltimore’s Recycled Love.

For a look at some of the other Vick dogs, click here.

(Photo: One of the Vick dogs at Best Friends, courtesy of Best Friends)

First came “Greatest American Dog;” now comes a TV show that’s looking for the worst.

“It’s Me or the Dog” — an American version of the popular British series of the same name — will likely resemble “Supernanny,” but with out of control canines instead of kids. Ricochet Television, the producers of ”Supernanny” (and “The Real Housewives of NYC” on Bravo) is producing the new show.

The British version of the show, which airs on the Animal Planet network, is in its fourth season.

Producers of the American version are starting their search for ill-behaved dogs, and are holding an open casting call co-hosted by Sittercity.com on Saturday, August 23rd at Bark N’ Bitches, 505 N. Fairfax, in Los Angeles, from 10am until 2pm. Animal Radio will be broadcasting live from the event.

The production company is looking for the most unruly dogs it can find:

“If you have a pooch who’s an obedience school drop-out and you live in Southern California, ‘It’s Me or the Dog’ you! The casting team is looking for dog-owners from every type of background who are ready for the ultimate doggy boot camp.”

To learn more about the Los Angeles casting, visit the show’s web site, or call 1-877-44 DOGGY. The show will be accepting applications through the summer.