Pittie City... meet some of the rescued dogs at Best Friends

UPDATED WEEKLY - Here are the stories of some of the pit bulls of Best Friends, including some of the Vicktory dogs. We'll be adding more dog bios, so check back weekly.

Scroll down to see just a few of the many animals at the sanctuary who would love you for a sponsor. For a complete listing go here. Or to give the perfect gift for your friends and family - a Best Friends animal sponsorship - go here

Curly

Curly's salary as assistant chef to the Vicktory dogs may not be anything to write home about, but the fringe benefits are great! Curly is one of the Vicktory dogs himself, one of the dogs rescued from the property of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick. But today, he's at Best Friends, a star rising to fame and fortune not as a fighter, but as a "kitchen assistant" for his caregiver.

Backing up a bit, Curly has a nickname of sorts: Curly Sneaky Eyes. There's something mischievous about this guy - in a good way, of course. He sits and watches people with a certain kind of intensity, as if he's peering into their soul. He always seems to know something you don't. Part of this whole "sneaky eye" thing has to do with the fact that Curly has a lot of brain energy and he's itching to use it. Plenty of physical energy, too, but mostly brain energy. He wants to do something with all that abundant sneakiness.

When McKenzie, one of his caregivers, decided to let Curly try out his talents as an assistant chef, Curly found his calling in life. Here's how he fills his end of the bargain: Curly sits up in a chair while McKenzie mixes and prepares the food. Curly watches closely, and if you ask, adds suggestions and provides feedback on the process from his vantage point on the chair. Also, if a piece of food happens to fall to the floor, Curly makes sure the workstation stays clean. After all, any self-respecting culinary worker should ensure a clean floor, shouldn't he?

Finally, Curly always keeps a spare eye on the kitchen door to make sure nobody tries to make off with the food. They don't call him Sneaky Eyes for nothing!

If you want to help with Curly's "salary", show your support by sponsoring him today.

Shadow

Shadow used to be so shy he'd hide in the corner and try to disappear. When he came to Best Friends he wanted nothing to do with anybody. He was completely shut down.

Not surprising when you learn what he's had to live through. Shadow is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act."

Out of all 22 Vicktory dogs who came to Best Friends, Shadow was perhaps the most withdrawn. Everything terrified him. On his walks, he'd do a sort of commando crawl the whole way, staying as low to the ground as possible.

Wow, what a turnaround! It's amazing what a little TLC can do (okay, a lot of TLC). Once Shadow came to realize that everybody wanted to love him and help him get better, he became a different dog entirely. Nowadays he loves visitors, walks, and all things fun. An amazing act of healing in a dog who used to think the entire world was one big scary problem to hide from. Sponsor Shadow.

Dahlila

Big ears and big eyes. Dahlila is begging you to take a second look at her!

She's the friendliest dog you could ever want to meet, and she's getting downright depressed about getting overlooked by all the adopters. She just loves them all! Couldn't one of them love her too?

Dahlila will get right up in your lap to ask for affection. She's happy to ride in the car, walk with you, or just be in the room together - she just craves the feeling of knowing someone wants her to be a part of their life.

Dahlila is housetrained and well behaved. Just three years old and 37 pounds!

No cats or horses, but another dog in the home would be just fine if he were a good match for her.

Is there anyone who could cheer up this gal? Sponsor Dahlila.

Whitney

An adorable bundle of energy.

Whitney can play and play - and walk and walk. And she just wants someone to share her life with. Life is so much fun! And it would be so much better with a person.

Whitney was found running around loose. She wanted to come inside and say "hello" to everybody. She's so affectionate - she just adores people.

Nothing makes her happier than when visitors come to the sanctuary and she gets to take them for a walk! (OK, so some of them feel a little exhausted when it's done, but they say she's just a friendly, affectionate doll.) She does have some chronic eye problems that need a little bit of regular care, but it's not too much trouble. Finding the right other dog for her to live with can also be a challenge. If they're submissive, it sometimes works out. But an "only dog" would also be a great situation for her.

Whitney is just two years old! She'd love a forever home or a sponsor.

Willie

All the world is a playground for Willie. He loves his toys! One of his favorites, though, is something he can't always play with. The reason why? He needs to eat out of it once in a while! Willie's favorite toy is his food bowl. He can be seen tossing the dish high overhead over and over. He'd probably try juggling it with his water dish, but the caregivers have double-clipped that one to the fence.

It's amazing how happy Willie is day in and day out, considering how bad things were for him not too long ago. Willie is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the Animal Welfare Act."

When he first came to Best Friends, Willie was a little shy and withdrawn, like many of the Vicktory dogs (as we're now calling them). After all, they had little reason to trust people. As a group, they were afraid of almost anything new, even something as simple as crossing a threshold.

Think about that one for a minute, though. As fighting dogs, bad things happened when they crossed a doorway. Fights may have been the only time many of these dogs left confinement. That could make a doorway seem mighty ominous. Whatever the reasons, the 22 Vicktory dogs as a group were pretty shy in the beginning. But they've been receiving 24-hour care since coming to the sanctuary a month ago and it's amazing what a little TLC can do.

Willie is only one example of progress. He's now one of the happiest, most playful dogs around. He enjoys "regular" toys, too ¬ especially really large balls. Heck, he'd probably play with a bowling ball, given a chance! As Willie and the rest of the Vicktory dogs continue to overcome their awful past, it's wonderful to see their personalities surface. Life has given them a second chance, and they're giving this one their very best.

Please help Willie continue to learn the joys of life by sponsoring him today!

Ray

Ray would love nothing more than to be swallowed whole by a gigantic pile of blankets and pillows! He’s a glutton for soft, comfy beds.

Ray is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act." When he came to Best Friends, he was skinny and nervous about the world around him. He didn’t like walks and he wasn’t eating very well. He needed some help.

Caregivers have been working with Ray around the clock. He may still not enjoy going on walks all the time, but they’ve found his weakness. Pampering! Ray is a picky eater, and as skinny as he is he’s been getting a bit spoiled in the food department. Also, his fetish with blankets and pillows is indulged as often as possible. The caregivers sleep in the area at night with the dogs, and Ray gets to climb into all their blankets. He also loves full-body massages. During any massage session, Ray is likely to nod off to sleep mid-massage. After all he’s been through, of course, a little pampering is the least he deserves. Sponsor Ray.

Bonita

Bonita may take a little while to warm up to strangers, yet once she’s their friend she does a little dance of joy every time they pay a visit. With Bonita, trust must be earned. Not surprising, given how people disappointed her in the past.

Bonita is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act." She came to Best Friends with filed teeth and scars all over her body. Fighting dogs with filed teeth are either a bait dog (a punching bag for training, more or less) or used for breeding. Since Bonita doesn’t seem to have been bred much, and the scars speak for themselves, it’s a safe bet her life was about as rough as it could be in that world.

At Best Friends, though, she’s finding a whole new reason to start smiling again. She feels loved. She enjoys visits from her caregivers, and does indeed wiggle and dance at their approach. A brand new person can send Bonita backing up into the shadows, however. She’s not yet ready to welcome every new face with a smile and a wag. She’ll get there. In the meantime, she has all the love and patient help she is ready to receive. Sponsor Bonita.

Lucas

Here's a guy who knows how to make friends. Lucas loves meeting people so much that he climbs on top of his doghouse whenever visitors come nearby, just hoping they'll notice him. Not a shy bone in his body! Some people seem surprised at how friendly he is, given his background.

Lucas is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act." His face is covered with scars, but not his spirit. Lucas wants to give love.

Back in his days as a fighter, Lucas was one of the grand champions. His big, muscular body has the scars all over that prove he was one of the most fought dogs out of the entire group that came to Best Friends. Yet somehow after all that tragic life history, Lucas is still nothing but kisses and smiles. Which is all part of the puzzle, sad to say. One reason pitts are such sought-after fighters is their intense desire to please people. And Lucas sure does aim to please.

Caregivers at Best Friends are working with Lucas round the clock to help teach him additional social skills, such as walking on a lead and learning how to be comfortable in new environments. And every step of the way, Lucas is waiting with a big sloppy kiss to show he's ready for the next lesson. Sponsor Lucas.

Ivy

Now, that's a great smile!

Meet Ivy, a golden beauty with a great grin. She's an Am Staff and Heeler mix who was born in 2002. Those are both high-energy breeds. That's why she loves hiking, and gets excited when little critters cross her path (it's fun to give chase!). The rest of the time, though, Ivy's a sweet, gentle girl who can even be a bit of a couch potato.

Ivy gets along great with all people, young and old, and with most dogs. We say "most", because Ivy was found as a stray involved in a dogfight. Hard to believe! However, when you're forced onto the streets, you