News
Vick Dogfighting Investigation Widens With Feds Getting Involved
May 10, 2007, 12:0AM MT
By Laura Allen
The U.S. Justice Department has taken over the investigation into dog fighting on property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick.
The U.S. Justice Department has taken over the investigation into dog fighting on property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick.
by Laura Allen Best Friends Animal Society
Update: On June 7, 2007 investigators for the U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with the Virginia state police executed a search warrant on the property. Another search warrant was executed on June 8. It was reported nearly 3 dozen bodies of dogs were found buried on the property.
An April 25, 2007 raid carried out by the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force (VAFTF) along with the Virginia State Police and Drug Task Force on Vick’s Surry County, Virginia property, revealed an extensive operation to breed and train fighting dogs.
For more on this raid and the 66 dogs and dog fighting paraphernalia seized, click here. Raid Uncovers Dog Fighting Operation On Property Of Atlanta Falcons Quarterback
Vick has denied any involvement in dog fighting. He claims his cousin, Davon Boddie, actually lived on the property. Vick admits visiting the property at least occasionally but said he did not know of any criminal activity taking place.
Since that raid Vick has sold the property at an estimated loss of nearly $400,000. Also since the raid, a website, vicksk9kennels.com, operated by a company owned by Vick, MV7 LLC, has been taken down. The site promoted the breeding of pit bulls.
An ESPN informant has claimed Vick personally bet on his own dog during a 2000 dog fight. The informant, who has not been identified, said Vick claimed he won $5,000 in that fight. The informant also said his dog beat Vick’s dog in a dog fight. He described Vick as a “pit bull fighter”, a “heavyweight” in dog fighting who bets big money, $30,000-$40,000 or more on dog fights.
Dog fighting task force officials have said Vick’s name has come up several times during investigations.
The Surry County, Virginia prosecuting attorney Gerald G. Poindexter has announced despite involvement by the federal authorities, his office will continue to investigate dog fighting on the Vick property as well.
The Surry County, Virginia investigation
Poindexter has been criticized for failing to have a Surrey County search warrant for the property executed because he was concerned about its wording. The search warrant would have allowed officials to look for up to 30 bodies of dogs said by an informant to be buried on the property. That search warrant expired on June 7, 2007 though county officials are preparing another one.
Poindexter has said he knows of no eyewitnesses linking Vick to dog fighting at the property. He has said it is difficult to establish dog fighting took place on the property, but said he is convinced there has been dog fighting there because of blood spatters found in a loft.
According to Poindexter, the dogs seized from Vick’s property appear to have received good care. He said only one required immediate veterinary care and that was because of a broken leg caused by a birth defect.
Poindexter has not disputed, however, that during the April 25, 2007 raid, authorities found about 30 “pit bull type” dogs tied to heavy chains which were attached to buried car axles. Nor has the prosecutor disputed authorities seized a great deal of evidence related to dog fighting including “break” or “parting” stick used to pry open fighting dogs’ mouths during fights; breeding and training equipment including treadmills and “slat mills” used to train dogs for fighting.
Also found were rape stands used to force fighting dogs to breed by restraining an aggressive female, steroids and controlled substances as well as vitamins, dietary and red blood cell supplements administered to fighting dogs, bloody strips of carpeting often found in dog fighting pits, a scale with a hook on it to weigh dogs; a diuretic to stimulate urination after a fight, and drugs and antibiotics to treat wounds. Authorities also seized documents allegedly showing involvement in dog fighting ventures.
The difficulty in enforcing dog fighting laws
The prosecutor’s reluctance highlights the difficulty of enforcing most dog fighting laws. Though dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and a felony in all except Wyoming and Idaho, many aspects of dog fighting are not always illegal. In some states, for example, authorities must actually catch someone in the act of dog fighting in order to prosecute a crime. It may not be illegal in a particular jurisdiction to promote, stage, provide equipment or property for, arrange, gamble on or attend a dog fight; possess dog fighting paraphernalia or own, breed or train dogs for fighting. For more on the Virginia dog fighting law involved here and a look at a much stronger animal fighting law passed last year in South Carolina that includes provisions for forfeiture of all property and profits associated with animal fighting, click here. Raid Uncovers Dog Fighting Operation On Property Of Atlanta Falcons Quarterback
Authorities rarely catch anyone actually at a dog fight. The fights can be spontaneous and are usually easy to disband; within minutes, the participants can be long gone – the human ones, that is. (Investigators who find the scene of a fight sometimes see dogs still fighting. They find dogs bleeding, badly injured and disabled, just left at the scene. Others are abandoned because they have lost their owners’ money in fights. In the inner cities, the authorities find fighting dogs housed in abandoned buildings or tied up on the streets.)
Also, many dog fighting laws have light penalties. Poindexter, for example, expressed disbelief the federal government was “getting involved in a dog fighting case”. He explained if Vick was not a celebrity, the case would not be a priority. He explained dog fighting is the lowest grade of felony in Virginia with a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $2500 fine. (For comparison, note that Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was fined $15,000 last season by the NFL for a late hit on Vick.) Experts believe if convicted under state law, Vick would not receive prison time.
That may change, though, with the involvement in this case of federal authorities enforcing the newly enacted Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. That law gives federal prosecutors the authority for the first time to charge felonies for participating in the sale or other movement of dogs across state or national lines for fighting.
Also, a number of dog fighting task forces have sprung up in the past few years. Law enforcement has joined forces to attack this problem and shut down this blood sport. Already there have been several raids on suspected dog fighting operations around the country. Prosecutors are increasingly likely to demand prison time for those convicted of involvement in this blood sport.
Dog fighting is a growing, lucrative blood sport worldwide.
It is estimated approximately 20,000-40,000 people in the U.S. alone participate in dog fighting, believed to be a growing multibillion-dollar industry worldwide. It is an activity that cuts across geographic, socio-economic and cultural lines. Though it is still very popular in rural areas, dog fighting is becoming more of an urban phenomenon, run by gangs in the inner cities.
Most of the dogs used for fighting are American pit bull terriers. A pit bull puppy can cost as much as $5,000.
An average dog fight carries a $10,000 purse but they can be much higher, $500,000 to $1 million.
Dog fighting among professional athletes
Vick is not the only professional athlete who has been alleged to be involved in dog fighting. Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson pleaded guilty to three charges related to dogfighting in 2005. Johnson is serving a five-year deferred sentence. Washington Redskins players Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels have publicly defended Vick, basically saying dog fighting should be legal, that it is a “prevalent part of life”. They were incredulous Vick might go to jail “for no reason”, “over a dog fight”. Portis later apologized for his comments.
Authorities believe dog fighting is part of the culture of professional athletes who participate probably for the excitement.
Dog fighting and owning “tough” or “mean” dogs have even been glamorized in some circles in popular culture.
It is no longer only the criminal dog fighter who wants to own tough or aggressive pit bulls. Owning such a dog is now a status symbol among some young men. The demand for “tough” or “mean” dogs has increased the breeding and training of these dogs, mostly pit bulls, for aggression and fighting. These dogs are filling the shelters and adding to the problem of unwanted dogs that are not adoptable because of aggression.
The NFL's Response
The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting investigators for NFL Security are assisting in the investigation into dog fighting on Vick’s property. The NFL has released this statement: "Dogfighting is cruel, degrading, and illegal. We support a thorough investigation into any allegations of this type of activity. Any NFL employee proved to be involved in this type of activity will be subject to prompt and significant discipline under our personal conduct policy."
This may be an understatement. Dog fighting is more than cruel. It is a horrific blood sport where the dogs fight, often until one is dead or too severely injured to continue. Other animals are used to help train or “warm up” the dogs for a fight. They are put into a mesh bag and suspended above the fighting dog as bait or thrown into a pit with a fighting dog, probably with their mouths taped shut. These “bait” animals can be cats, rabbits or other dogs. They are often pets who were stolen or obtained through “free to a good home” advertisements.
The fighting dogs may be starved, kept on heavy chains and caged in dark rooms sometimes in filthy, squalid conditions. Some are tortured – for example, burned with cigarettes or hit with electric prods – or forced to train on treadmills for hours. These dogs may be given steroids and other drugs, anything to make them more aggressive.
Survivors of fights are likely covered with old scars and deformities from never properly treated wounds, torn flesh, and dislocated and broken bones. Veterinary care for injuries from fights might be no more than staples and basic stitches.
Dog fighting is a dangerous underworld activity characterized by gambling, illegal drugs, prostitution, violence and guns. In fact, the initial raid on Vick’s property involved a search for illicit drugs.
As with many lucrative illegal businesses, access is controlled; secret codes are used to spread information about dog fights and the breeders. Dog fighters may use message boards and advertisements on web sites to share information. There are also about 10 underground dog fighting magazines and, in addition, DVDs with gangsta-rap soundtracks.
What You Can Do:
Tell the NFL and Atlanta Falcons that dog fighting is a horrific bloodsport that should be treated as the crime that it is. Let them know dog fighting is also an activity characterized by violence, weapons, and illicit drugs and gambling. Ask the NFL and the Falcons to help crack down on dog fighting. Tell them they should not tolerate any participation in dog fighting activity by their players and others involved with their organizations.
National Football League
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-450-2000
Joanna Hunter
National Football League Communications & Public Affairs
280 Park Avenue . New York, NY 10017
T: (212) 450-2449 | F: (212) 681-7573
ABOUT the NFL
http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/football/profootball/nflldirectory.htm
Feedback to Falcons:
feedback@ fans. atlanta falcons. com
Also, write or call Surry County, VA prosecuting attorney, Gerald G. Poindexter, and urge him to investigate this case fully and if charges are warranted, to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.
Gerald G. Poindexter
P. O. Box 358
Surry, Virginia 23883
Phone # (757) 294-3118[/b]
Please thank the US Attorney's Office for becoming involved in this investigation and helping everyone recognize dog fighting is a serious matter!
U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee
usavaw.webmaster @ usdoj. gov
Headquarters Office
310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Post Office Box 1709
Roanoke, Virginia 24008-1709
Telephone: (540) 857-2250
Toll Free: 1-877-220-8014
TTY: (540) 857-2037
Fax: (540) 857-2614 [/b]
Check out your state's dog fighting law in our Resources section.
Click Here