73 replies to this topic

[Vicki_Wood]

This is a very upsetting article and should only be read if you have a strong constitution. I am posting this only because I feel we all need to be informed in order to report and stop this kind of horrendous happenings. I apologize beforehand.



RICHMOND, Va. - NFL star Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation so grisly the losers either died in the pit or sometimes were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.


Glazer on Vick indictment
Even if Michael Vick avoids jail time in this dogfighting scandal, Jay Glazer isn't sure he'll be able to scramble away from Roger Goodell.


The Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three others were charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.

The 18-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.

The indictment states that dogs fought to the death — or close to it.

If convicted, Vick and the others — Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor — could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

Telephone messages left at the offices and home of Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, were not returned. A woman who answered the phone at the home of Vick's mother said "no comment" and hung up.


Vick indicted

Vick indicted on dog fight charges

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Read the indictment (.pdf)

Feds search Vick house again

Cop: Witnesses put Vick at scene

Vick cancels youth camp



"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

"The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."

Vick and the Falcons are scheduled to report to training camp on July 25.

"Obviously, we are disturbed by today's news," the team said in a statement posted on its Web site, apologizing to fans for the negative publicity.

"We will do the right thing for our club as the legal process plays out. We have a season to prepare for," it said.

John Goodwin of the Humane Society said the manner in which losing or unwilling dogs were killed was especially troubling.

"Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I'm a person who faces this stuff every day," he said. "I was surprised to see that they were killing dogs by hanging them and one dog was killed by slamming it to the ground. Those are extremely violent methods of execution — they're unnecessary and just sick."

Vick and the others are accused of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture" and conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.

About eight young dogs were put to death at the Surry County home after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007, the indictment said. They were killed "by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."

The indictment also outlined a rough chronology:


In March 2003, after a pit bull from Bad Newz Kennels lost in a fight, it said Peace consulted with Vick about the losing dog's condition, then executed it by wetting it with water and electrocuting it;

In March 2003, after two Bad Newz Kennels dog lost fights to dogs owned by a cooperating witness, it alleged that Vick retrieved a bag containing $23,000 and gave it to the owner of the winning dogs. One of the fights had a $20,000 purse;

In the fall of 2003, a person witnessing a dog fight involving one of the dogs trained by Bad Newz Kennels incurred the ire of another cooperating witness by yelling out Vick's name in front of the crowd during the fight.
It also said that after establishing Bad Newz Kennels in early 2002, Vick and the others obtained shirts and headbands promoting their affiliation with the kennel.

After a police raid on the property in April, Vick said he was rarely at the house, had no idea it may have been used in a criminal enterprise. He blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.

On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, "a.k.a. BadNews."

Purses for the fights ranged from hundreds of dollars to the thousands, and participants and spectators placed side bets, the document said.

Local authorities have been investigating the allegations since the April 25 drug raid at the property Vick owned. On June 7, officials with the Department of Agriculture executed their own search warrant and found the remains of seven dogs.

Surry County prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said he didn't know of the indictment before it was filed, and said he's not sure how the county will continue its case.



At the start, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting. About half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact — an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The indictment said dogfights were held at the Virginia property and dog owners brought animals from six states, including New York and Texas.

In a search warrant executed July 6, the government said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours.

Before fights, participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance.

Sometimes, dogs weren't fed to "make it more hungry for the other dog," it said.

[Kzoo]

Those people need prosecuted. NOt made to pay. People like that have money, so it doesn't bother them to lose any of it. Prison time does though.
Melissa K.

[Karen A]

Unfortunately the loser doesnt' just lose the fight. They are tortured afterwards for losing. There's a lot of $$ at stake for these jackaxxes and they are usually fueled up on alcohol and dope during these fights. Trust me, they don't tenderly nurse the losers back to health

[Daisy]

Your right, its just disgusting!!! :0(
I hope they proscute them all to the limit....
Between the dog fighting, animal cruelity, drugs, gambling,
it sounded like a big operation...
Jail time wont be long enough im afraid....

Daisy

[Vicki_Wood]

I just find this so upsetting and intolerable in a supposedly "civilized society". They should let the dogs loose on these neanderthals.

[CAB]

I don't know if this is similiar to what Vicki posted. I can't get myself to read it nor could I get myself to watch this.

Dogfighting means big business for gamblers and is a growing problem for many cities. CNN's Drew Griffin takes an inside look. A warning: The images may be disturbing to some.

http://www.clickonde...5184/index.html

[Bgstk0529]

The images should be disturbing to all.

[Vicki_Wood]

This is the environment my Cobalt Blue came from. You all have been so supportive in me dealing with a very diffult, but lovable boy; some have even said I took a lot more from him than most people would have. I don't feel that I'm that special but when anything comes from that type of a background, how can you not give them every chance on earth to be the lovable, happy success that he has turned out to be?

[Annie Moon]

I couldn't watch the video... I feel sick to my stomach (literally) just thinking about those poor tortured dogs.
Michael Vick had a responcibility as a role model for youth... he sure screwed that up...
He is a POS scumbag barbarian,
and deserves prison time, to lose his career, and everything he holds dear...
I'm just sick about this....

[ella]

I heard that he is a spokesperson for Nike Shoes. and Nike is not going to drop him. I will not be buying anymore Nike shoes..

[duboisdobes]

The only good that can come from this is that because he is famous this story is front page news. I'm no expert, but I am sure this happens everyday and we never hear about it. I am sure that there are a huge number of people just like Vick that think they are above the law. Hopefully the NFL will send a message and suspend him NOW. Hopefully this will make people sit up and take notice of the fact that we need harsher punishments for this and all crimes against animals.

[debl]

Do you think we can write letters to the NFL and have it do any good?

[Vicki_Wood]

Also, how about bombarding Nike with letters as well? Don't exactly know who or where to send them to.

[Vicki_Wood]

I'd like to boot the NFL in the axx!


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - This much we know: Michael Vick won't be on the field when the Atlanta Falcons open training camp next Thursday. He'll be in a federal courtroom.

What happens after that was anyone's guess Wednesday, and there was no shortage of opinions.
Suspend him. Cut him. Let him play until he's proven guilty of felony charges that he sponsored a gruesome dogfighting operation.

For the time being, that's what the NFL intends to do with the star quarterback- let him play.

After consulting with the Falcons, commissioner Roger Goodell and top league officials agreed to let the legal process determine the facts.

A person with knowledge of the meeting, who requested anonymity so the case would not be influenced, said the NFL would stick to that position for the foreseeable future, despite its new personal conduct policy.




Vick indicted on dog fight charges

Vick due in court July 26


In April, Goodell suspended Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones for the 2007 season even though Jones had not been convicted of a crime. He did, however, have 10 encounters with police and five arrests since he was drafted in 2005.

The NFL players' union took the same stance as the league.

"It's unfortunate that Michael Vick is in this position, as these allegations are extremely disturbing and offensive," the union said in a statement. "This case is now in the hands of the judicial system, and we have to allow the legal process to run its course. However, we recognize Michael still has the right to prove his innocence. Hopefully, these allegations are untrue and Michael will be able to continue his NFL career."

Vick and the three others charged must appear in Richmond next week for bond hearings and arraignments on charges contained in a detailed, 18-page indictment handed up Tuesday.

The four are accused of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.

Conviction carries up to six years in prison, fines of $350,000 and restitution.

Among the grisly findings: Losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot. The indictment said purses climbed as high as $20,000 for fights.

Those and other allegations of animal abuse have already put Vick squarely in the center of strong and divided reaction.

In Atlanta, where Vick's name dwarfs all others in pro sports, about 46 percent of respondents in an overnight telephone poll conducted by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage think the Falcons should release Vick. About the same percentage said the team should keep him until a verdict is returned. About 8 percent of the 859 people polled had no opinion. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Nike, one of Vick's sponsors, said it was reviewing the indictment and would have no other comment.

In a letter to Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Vick's corporate sponsors, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States in calling for strong stands against animal cruelty.

"Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong," the letter said.

Goodell and Blank met individually with Vick in May after the investigation started, telling him to straighten up or risk discipline.

Blank said he "could not have been more stern" in telling Vick that he represents himself, the franchise and the league and needs to do it right.

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"They both challenged me to be more accountable in all areas of my life. I know I need to make some changes around me to make sure that the people in my life have my best interest at heart," Vick said at the time. "My goal is to not let my fans, my teammates or my coaches down."

The Falcons signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004. He has been paid about $44 million, including $37 million in guaranteed bonuses, and is due to earn a base salary of $6 million this season.

Teams can amortize the salary cap implications of signing bonuses, but if a player is cut, all bonuses paid but not yet factored into the salary cap must be accounted for within two years.

The Falcons face an estimated salary cap hit of about $6 million this year and $15 million in 2008 if they release Vick - devastating hits to any team's budget.

[Annie Moon]

Yes, does anyone have an e-mail addy for the Falcons?

[debl]

Nike won't say boo about the recently indicted Michael Vick. Looks like they care more about money than morals, says Mark Kriegel.

http://msn.foxsports...l/story/7038442

[debl]

Here's another idea. NFL football is big business & their biggest source of revenue is from television. Contact the networks to let them know we will boycott any televised game with Vick as long as he is allowed to continue his career. Remember Pete Rose? He's banned from baseball for life. Rose was betting, but Vick is an owner of dogs, betting, running the fights and avidly abusing dogs.

Comments?!?

[Vicki_Wood]

EXCELLENT IDEA!!!! What Rose did looks piddly compared to this. We need to find numbers, e-mails, etc. to start bombarding them with all of our displeasure and I'm not very literate in doing that.

[duboisdobes]

Here's another idea. NFL football is big business & their biggest source of revenue is from television. Contact the networks to let them know we will boycott any televised game with Vick as long as he is allowed to continue his career. Remember Pete Rose? He's banned from baseball for life. Rose was betting, but Vick is an owner of dogs, betting, running the fights and avidly abusing dogs.

Comments?!?

Great point about Pete Rose.
I've already warned my son and husband that I better not see a single game with him playing on my TV. Although a nice showing of people with a voice against Vick would be great at everyone of his games...even if it is just out front were the news cameras can catch it. The scary part is that this is probably like steroids in sports and it probably runs deeper than anyone is willing to admit.

I also read that the Humane Society is trying to raise money to care for the dogs...Amazing....a multi-millionaire and a judge can't force him to pay for the care of the animals.

[Vicki_Wood]

Here is a number at least.

THANK YOU for asking for a hard line against Michael Vick's alleged dogfighting crimes.

Here is one more important step to ensure your voice is heard: Please take a moment to leave a message with NFL Public Relations at 1-212-450-2000 (you may have to leave a message in voicemail) and urge the NFL to suspend Michael Vick.