SPOKANE, Wash. - Eight pit bulls that were seized in Spokane as fighting dogs are getting a new home in St. Louis.

Rita, Chewie, Zita, Fatty, Gorda, Callie, Hope and Justice, known as the "Great Eight" among animal welfare activists, are being taken in a climate-controlled van to Stray Rescue in Missouri.

The Spokane dogs were evidence in a case that resulted in Washington state's first animal fighting convictions. The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service, known as SCRAPS, was then given ownership.

SCRAPS Director Nancy Hill says workers will miss the dogs but are happy they are getting a new home. She says Carmel Travis, a real estate agent in Pullman spent more than 100 hours working to arrange the transfer.

The trip from Spokane to St. Louis is being facilitated by Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, Utah.

“None of the money used for any portion of this rescue operation is coming from taxpayer dollars,” said Jackie Bell, SCRAPS Development Coordinator, “It is all coming from concerned citizens as donations.”