NFL star indicted. Dog fighting charges

(CNN) -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faces criminal charges and a possible prison sentence for allegedly participating in an enterprise that trained pit bulls for death matches in which spectators bet on the outcome, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.


Authorities search property in Smithfield, Virginia, owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.



Vick, 27, and three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, on a conspiracy count alleging they bought and sponsored dogs in an animal fighting venture and traveled across state lines to participate in illegal activity, including gambling.

According to the indictment, dogs that didn't show enough fighting spirit, or that lost matches, were put to death by a variety of methods, including shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution. Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, Vick participated in killing eight dogs.

A National Football League spokesman said the allegations against Vick would be reviewed under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," said spokesman Brian McCarthy. "We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities."


http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/17/vick/

his football career. This is so sad. I can't even understand why people think this stuff is ok.

What has a guy got to do to have a good time any more?

We've got Senators consorting with prostitutes while wearing diapers and million-dollar athletes enjoying dog fighting.

Bread and circuses....

I have no sympathy for the perps.

I do wish, fervently, that "reporters" would learn the proper used of the words "alleged" and "allegedly."

I hope Vick goes away for awhile.

It was well-established by the time he was in high school that as an athlete not only is violence the path to riches, women and the finer things in life, he is also above the law.

Trust me, just like every other fucking jock bully, he'll walk.

And lets not forget people in high school bands. High risk sex offenders just waiting to happen.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19814494/

When a Bad Newz Kennels dog was wounded in a losing fight, NFL star Michael Vick was consulted before the animal was doused with water and electrocuted.

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Unlike previous documents, which did not name Vick, the indictment is littered with his name, including this tidbit — Vick was known as “Ookie” in the dogfighting world.

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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.”

“Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I’m a person who faces this stuff every day,” Goodwin 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.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19814494/

I'm hoping this case is the national spotlight on the cruel, inhumane world of dogfighting which is too damn common in this country and is a growing problem. I'd love to see a national, state, local, very serious crackdown on dog-fighting. IMHO there ought to be some serious, really heavy-duty penalties on anyone who engages in it. Besides the cruelty to the dogs there's also a danger to the community as great as leaving a loaded gun lying on the street when they animals attack innocent people including sometimes the family members of the dog-raisers. I've seen and read too damn many stories of pit bulls attacking kids, adults, elderly people and in many cases killing or severely mauling them. Also a lot of other dogs and cats have been attacked and killed or mauled.

have escaped the Vick compound and done god knows what is horrifying.

wouldn't the dogs escaping the Vick compound have been a good thing?

I hope Vick goes down and goes down hard for this!