It's a brand new day at Dogtown for these former Virginia "witnesses." The pit bulls, handed over in December to Best Friends by the court, now not only have fresh identities, but a different lifestyle as well.

In fact, life couldn't be better! They're eating healthy food, playing with toys, interacting with their caregivers and trainers, going for walks, learning how to walk on a leash, and acclimating to their new desert environs - all so these former fighters can learn how to be domestic pets and regular dogs.

The deplorable conditions the dogs lived under were used as evidence in a case involving suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who is serving a 23-month federal sentence for a dog-fighting conspiracy conviction. Fifty-two pit bulls were seized last year from Vick's estate in southeastern Virginia. Twenty-two of the dogs were placed at Best Friends and the remaining dogs were divided among a handful of other animal rescue groups.

To ensure that publicity doesn't compromise the proceedings, a federal court order prevents Best Friends from revealing details about the individual dogs and their conditions until a related case is brought to a close January 25. So, for now, the dogs' identities remain a closely guarded secret.

To read the complete story, click here. Click here, News for cats and dogs - Vick's Dogs Scheduled To Go In Front Of Media, Life In Leavenworth For Vick for a related story.