Television

"Georgia" strained against her leash, eager to start her walk while pulling trainer John Garcia along a dusty road at Best Friends Animal Society.

Even though she's still excitable, the 6-year-old pit bull has progressed a lot after her arrival at the no-kill animal shelter north of Kanab, Utah, following her rescue from former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's dog-fighting operation.

Georgia is not only learning social skills, but is on the brink of stardom.

The dog, along with three other rescued pits, will be featured in a multi-part series airing on National Geographic Channel starting with a two-hour premiere Sept. 5.

"We just got back from Beverly Hills where she was getting belly rubs at a barbecue," said Garcia, the assistant dog manager at Best Friends. "She just laid around the pool."

Michelle Besmehn, Best Friends' dog-care manager, said the dogs have made great progress since arriving in January.

"We have to meet the criteria to meet our responsibility for the dogs," she said.

A federal court imposed the criteria that gave the dogs to Best Friends after being rescued from Vick's Virginia dog-fighting operation.

The former NFL superstar was sentenced in December 2007 to serve 23 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. He and three co-defendants raised and trained pit bulls for fighting. Poorly performing dogs were killed.