December 10, 2007 Update: Michael Vick Sentenced to 23 months in Prison! Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and three years probation for his role in the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation and his participation in the brutal killing of several dogs that did not "perform well" in testing sessions. During his sentencing the suspended football star apologized to the court and his family. However, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson told him, "You need to apologize to millions of young people who looked up to you". Judge Hudson called Vick's actions "cruel and inhumane" and said that Vick was a full partner in "Bad Newz Kennels" and was therefore equally culpable for all crimes committed. Two of Vick's codefendants; Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, received 18 and 21 months respectively. A sentencing hearing is still pending for the final codefendant, Tony Taylor. According to Vick’s plea agreement he faced a possible sentence of 12-18 months in prison, however, prompted by Vick’s contradictory statements to officials and his drug use while out on bond, Judge Hudson upped the possible sentence range to 18-24 months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gill asked Judge Hudson to sentence Michael Vick to jail time at the high end the guideline range of 18-24 months because, as he told Judge Hudson, Vick funded the operation and used friends who were “dangerous” and “predisposed” to commit criminal acts. Click here for the full text of the Federal Plea Agreement Click here for the full text of the Michael Vick Federal Indictment Click here to read LCA's Modest Proposal for Michael Vick September 26, 2007 Update: State of Virginia Files Additional Charges Against Vick! Virginia Files State Charges: On September 25, a grand jury in Surry County, Virginia brought two felony charges against Vick. One count was for “unlawfully torturing and killing dogs” and one for “promoting dogfights.” Each charge carries a possible 5 year prison term. The next step is an October 3rd arraignment. The State of Virginia is represented by Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald D. Poindexter, and Vick will continue to be represented by Billy Martin, who is also representing him in the federal case. What Do These New State Charges Mean? The grand jury decided that it was “more probable than not” that Vick committed the crimes of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and promoting dogfights, and that Vick should stand trial for those charges. Now, there can either be a state trial set, or there can be a plea agreement, as happened in the federal case. We should find out which path is more likely at the October 3rd arraignment. Tentatively, a state trial is scheduled for November 27th, but this can and probably will change. If Vick is convicted of state charges, it may or may not lead to longer prison time. While the sentences could run “consecutively,” meaning the state time would be added to the federal time, it is more likely that the sentences would be “concurrent,” or run at the same time. Still, if given the maximum sentence on both state charges, Vick faces a 10 year prison term, even if the sentence runs concurrently with the federal sentence. Where Do The Federal Charges Stand? U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson will issue a sentence under the federal plea agreement on December 10th. August 27, 2007 Update: Michael Vick entered a guilty plea Monday, August 27, 2007 to conspiracy charges in Federal Court after being suspended indefinitely from the NFL on Friday. The plea agreement stated that he took part in an illegal, interstate dog-fighting enterprise. In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia, Vick said he knew dogs that did not perform well were killed. He said the fights involved gambling although he did not personally place bets. Judge Hudson scheduled the sentencing hearing for Michael Vick for December 10. To read the full text of the plea, click the link above. Michael Vick last week was suspended indefinitely from the NFL. In a statement from the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, he referred to Vick’s admitted conduct as "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible".   Michael Vick is a star NFL quarterback with the Atlantic Falcons. On April 25th, 2007, investigators raided Vick's home, in Surry County, Virginia, as part of a drug investigation involving a Vick's cousin, and stumbled upon a concealed dog kennel out back. Sixty-six dogs, mostly pit bulls, were seized, along with evidence of an organized fighting operation: treadmills rigged up for training; “break sticks” that are used to pry apart the powerful jaws of fighting animals; blood-soaked carpeting that might have been used in a fighting pit; veterinary medicines for treating wounds; and “rape stands,” hideous contraptions used to restrain female pit bulls during the breeding process. July 27th, 2007, Vick was charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. If convicted on the interstate commerce, Vick could face a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution of all the money made during the dog fighting venture. If convicted on the dog fighting charges, Vick faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Click here for the full text of the indictment. Last Chance for Animals has contacted the lawyers and prosecutors involved in this case with our modest proposal. Please click here to read how Michael Vick can still be a hero for animals. How You Can Get Involved In The Vick Case Contact the commissioners of the major professional sports leagues and urge them to update their personal conduct guidelines by including animal abuse in their prohibited conduct policy.   Don Garber Major League Soccer 110 E 42nd St, 10 Floor New York, NY 10017   Gary Bettman National Hockey League 1251 6th Ave, 4 Floor New York, NY 10020   David Stern National Basketball Association 645 5th Ave New York, NY 10022   Allen H. Selig Major League Baseball 245 Park Ave., 31 Floor New York, NY 10167 Roger Goodell National Football League 280 Park Ave New York, NY 10017     Sign up for our action alerts to keep updated on the Michael Vick case and learn more about how you can stay involved and put an end to dog fighting.

Dog Fighting - two dogs trained to fight are placed in a pit to attack each other until one can no longer continue.

Levels of Dog Fighting

• Professional dogfighters generally travel the country and the world, breeding and fighting dogs for profit.

• Hobbyists may have a handful of dogs they breed and follow the rules of a refereed dogfight, but they usually stay at the local level.

• Street fighters fight all breeds of dogs and normally do not keep track of a dog's record or bloodlines.

Criminal Activity and the Threat to Public Safety

• Dog fight spectators are typically involved in illegal gambling, betting money that a certain dog will prevail.

• Weapons are common at dog-fights because of the large amount of cash present.

• Major drug networks have been tied to animal fighting in several states, and raids on animal fighting operation have resulted in the seizure of large-scale drug operations and revealed underground drug manufacturing labs.

• Dog fighters and spectators have a history of violent and criminal behavior toward people.

• Dog fighting is sometimes used as entertainment for gangs.

• Dogs used in dog fighting are trained to be aggressive. Their presence in the community places others at risk of attack.

The Training

• Starvation to encourage malice.

• Beatings to build “endurance.”

• Forced exhausting exercise. For example, to strengthen the jaw of a fighting dog, the dog will be hung from a tree for hours by biting on to a rope.

• Small animals such as cats, kittens, puppies, and rabbits are often stolen to be used as training bait. These animals are hung from trees or tall buildings and then mauled to death.

The Fight

• Spectators often prod dogs with sharp objects and hit them to force continued fighting. They are frequently made to fight until one of them dies.

• Undercover investigators who have infiltrated dog fighting rings found blood-soaked dogs with life-threatening injuries left to die when no longer "game.” The injuries include; ripped ears, torn lips, genitals ripped and dangling, eyes swollen shut, and faces so riddled with punctures that the dogs were barely able to breathe.

After the Fight

• Dogs who survive a fight often die from blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion or infection.

• Once a dog is too injured to fight, the street fighters dump it or kill it. Shelters are often full of fighting dogs that have been discarded, adding to the millions of abandoned companion animals who are euthanized each year. Pit bulls rescues have trouble getting adopted because of bad press, but these dogs can be wonderful companions. Those pit bulls that have been trained to fight and are abandoned at shelters usually end up being euthanized. (See what happens to euthanized shelter animals on our Special Investigations Unit web page).

Children
Dog fighters or spectators often involve their children in dog fighting. Research shows young children who view this type of violence have a greater acceptance of aggressive attitudes and behavior. They are taught to believe that violence is entertaining, that it is okay to inflict the cruelties they observe and that dog fighting is an acceptable form of recreation.

Dog-Fight Locations

• abandoned house

• vacant garage

• isolated warehouse

• commercial or residential basement

• secluded park

• farmhouse or barn

Breed of Dogs Involved in Dog Fighting

Dogs which have the appearance and characteristics of a:

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• American Pit Bull Terrier or

• any other breed commonly known as “pit bull”

• other large breeds of dogs

Characteristics of Dogs Used in dog fighting

• short ear crops

• wounds and abscesses

• scars on the head, throat, legs, and ears

• wide leather or web collars with heavy rings

• puncture wounds and lacerations

• bleeding dogs and/or blood stains in a confined area

• severe injuries that can result in death from loss of blood and internal trauma

The Law

• dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and a felony offense in 48 states

• Being a spectator at a dog fighting event is illegal in 48 states

• The possession of dogs for fighting purposes is prohibited in 47 states.

Contact Your Elected Officials
Your elected officials’ contact information can be found at www.vote-smart.org They need to hear from you!!!

• If dog fighting is still a misdemeanor in your state (Idaho and Wyoming), write to your elected officials and ask that it be made a felony.

• If your state has not made it a felony to be a spectator at a dogfight (AK, AR, CA, DE, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NY, ND, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI), write to your elected officials and ask them to do so.

• If your state has not made the possession of dogs for fighting a felony (Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, West Virginia, Indiana, New York, Texas, and Wyoming), write to your elected officials and ask them to do so.

How You Can Help

• If you suspect dog fighting is occurring in your neighborhood, contact the police immediately.

• Volunteer with a dog rescue group.

• Educate your community about the horrors of dog fighting, contact LCA for more information.

• Teach respect for life.

• Sign up for LCA Action Alerts and keep informed on our dog fighting campaign and other ways you can help animals

• Volunteer with LCA, contact volunteer@LCAnimal.org  or call 310-271-6096 x30.