Vick Is Not The Victim

Whoopi Goldberg, comedian and talk show host, is the latest celebrity to speak out publicly in support of Mike Vick and his involvement in the dog fighting world.  Goldberg made the statements on her first day as the new host for the ABC talk show “The View”. 

"He's from the South, from the Deep South ... This is part of his cultural upbringing," said Goldberg.  She continued, "For a lot of people, dogs are sport". "Instead of just saying (Vick) is a beast and he's a monster, this is a kid who comes from a culture where this is not questioned."

Joy Behar, fellow comedian and “View” co-host retorted  "What part of the country is this? ... How about dog torturing and dog murdering?" she asked.

Goldberg's comments have enraged animal welfare activists, and with good cause.  As long as Vick is cast as a victim of circumstance instead of a willing participant in a an illegal and immoral crime, animal cruelty will continue to flourish under the guise of tradition or convention.

NFL SUSPENDS VICK FOLLOWING HIS ADMISSION OF GUILT!

The NFL announced their decision to suspend Mike Vick indefinitely without pay, finally!  The pronouncement came after Vick's attorney confirmed that Vick would plead guilty to charges stemming from a dog-fighting ring bust conducted by Virginia authorities last April.

The "summary of facts" filed with the plea and signed by Vick is a disturbing account of his involvement with the ring.  Among his admissions were partaking in the execution and drowning deaths of six to eight dogs that performed poorly in test fights. 

Anyone who defends Mike Vick after knowing he tortured animals in such a violent way is not fit to live in a civil society, any more than Vick is.

He will appear before a U.S. District to formally plead guilty Monday and then await sentencing at a later date.  In the meantime, he can stew over the fact that NFL Commissioner Goodell has given the Atlanta Falcons the right to get their money back!  After Goodell called Vick's actions "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible" he said the Falcons could "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.

Vick's fall from grace sends a strong signal to dog-fighting enthusiasts. Their need for blood will come at a cost if the animal welfare community has anything to do with it.  Vick's victims did not die in vain if he loses all his money, never play football again, he gets the maximum penalty for his crimes against the animal kingdom, and dogs are a little safer from savages like him and his ilk.
 

History: MIKE VICK PLEAS!

NFL quarterback Michael Vick announced today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges of felony conspiracy charges relating to dog fighting. According to his attorney, "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the charges and accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize to everyone who has been hurt by this matter," Martin's statement concluded.

We wonder how he'll manage to apologize to the dogs who were mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of him and his fellow "sports enthusiasts".

The trial was set to begin Nov. 26th, after 11 games of the Atlanta Falcons' 16-game regular season would have already been played. Now, he'll be looking ahead to the Super Bowl alright, possibly watching it on TV - in prison.

The charges could bring a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each defendant. And Vick may not be able to avoid prison time due to the high-profile attention this case has been receiving. Also, any judge isn't likely to feel Vick was truly remorseful and "did the right thing" - he made the deal after all of his co-defendants copped a plea, leaving Vick hanging, like one of his fighting dogs - literally.

Despite Vick's new-found contrition, the case against him does not look good: seven witnesses are lined up to testify, including his three co-defendants. Additional charges against Vick could include racketeering, resulting in more jail time for the quarterback, especially because Vick allegedly financed the gambling operation associated with the suspected dog fighting ring. However, the plea deal most likely means he will not face additional charges. 

Nike, Reebok Scrambles From the Specter of Mike Vick!

Mike Vick took a big hit to the pocketbook after Nike and Reebok decided to end their relationship with the now infamous quarterback.  Nike will no longer sell any merchandise besmirched with Vick's image or name, nor will they roll out the much-hyped V sneaker next month.  Reebok has stopped all sales of Vick's No. 7 NFL jersey.  Apparently this number was not so lucky for him.

Upper Deck Co. quickly followed suit by announcing their decision to pull Vick's card from future football card collections. They'll also discontinue sales of all sports memorabilia featuring Vick's signatures from their website.

This news followed his day in court Thursday when he pleaded not guilty to dog-fighting charges.  No surprise there. 

In an earlier bond hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Dohnal agreed to release Vick under certain conditions. In addition to surrendering his passport and dog-breeding license, Vick will not be allowed to travel outside the Eastern District of Virginia without prior approval and cannot buy or sell any dogs.

One of Vick's co-defendants Tony Taylor, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14 after he entered a guilty plea just days later.  Taylor reportedly was not promised any specific sentence in return for his cooperation with prosecutors.

Taylor's alleged involvement with Bad Newz Kennels (see full story below) include purchasing pit bulls and killing at least two dogs that did not test well when pitted against potential competitors.
 
Background on Story:

Shame on you...Michael Vick

NFL star Michael Vick showed his sports prowess off the football field this week when he was indicted for running a dog-fighting ring, called Bad Newz Kennels out of a house he bought six years ago. The charges detail the gory evidence that leaves no doubt that dog-fighting had indeed taken place in a complex of sheds and outhouses behind the main property at 1,519 Moonlight Road in Smithfield, south-eastern Virginia.

It may be shocking news to most to know even a celebrity can be involved in this hideous sport, but Pasado's Safe Haven was immersed in the dog fighting world when it rescued 1200 animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - many were either fighting pit bulls, or bait dogs. We saw the scars. We saw the pain, first-hand.

Kobe, seen left, was one of those bait dogs. Too gentle to ever fight, breeders of fight dogs, or owners, many times shoot those dogs who refuse to "perform". The scars left on Kobe's body told the story of how he lived his life. We're happy to say he was rescued by Pasado's Safe Haven, brought to Washington State, and eventually found a home with Rita Morgan, Pasado's National Cruelty and Legislation Director. Once destined to die in the jaws of another dog, he now "spoons" with her every night in bed.

Dog fighting is an insidious underground organized blood sport, once sanctioned by aristocracy, medieval gentry and later by the colonial and Victorian-era wealthy. It is now outlawed in the United States. but has reached epidemic proportions in all urban communities and continues to thrive in many rural areas as well.

We've heard it before - a well-known celebrity, usually in the sports world, slips up and exposes the horrid world of dog or cock fighting. This time it was Atlanta Falcons superstar quarterback Michael Vick -  one of the highest-paid professional athletes in the US.

Vick is accused of arranging, financing and betting on fights, dating back to 2001, and of being present at the brutal killing of animals that failed to measure up in test fights, or "rolls". He appears in court next week, on the very same day his Falcons teammates assemble for training for the 2007 season that starts in September.  He has been ordered to stay clear from training camp. 

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the personal conduct policy," Goodell said in a letter to the quarterback.

No other disciplinary actions have been taken against Vick by the Falcon franchise or the NFL to date.  

Dog-fighting is a crime in all 50 US states, and if convicted he faces up to six years in jail and a $350,000 fine.

Americans have long been repulsed by the undeniable brutality within the culture of animal fighting, but law enforcement has been regrettably lax in acting on arresting and pursuing prosecution in these cases. Pasado's faces this every day with any neglect or animal cruelty case - the rapes, murders, and other "more important" human cases relegate animal investigations to the very bottom.

Dog and cock fighting, get as much attention.

More victims than just the animals....

The men who make their money on fighting animals, commonly engage their children in observing the brutality. They grow up exposed to it and are conditioned to believe that the violence is normal; they are systematically desensitized to the suffering.

Dog (and cock) fighters are criminals who engage in a host of peripheral criminal activities. Many are heavily involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, or gangs, and they arrange and attend the fights as a forum for gambling and drug trafficking. Within the last decade, enlightened law enforcement agencies and government officials have become cognizant of the clandestine culture of dog-fighting and its connection with other crimes and community violence.

Mamacita, left, is Pasado's only remaining Katrina rescue who has not been adopted. She too was a part of the dog fighting activity in New Orleans. And you would never know it. She is so gentle. When children visit Pasado's sanctuary, she is one of the first dogs here to lick their faces cuddle with them.

What to do if you suspect dog or cock fighting in your area:

--First, contact Rita Morgan. She knows what to do next.
--If you can, take photos or video. Most animal fighting laws are written in a way that require an eye-witness. But be careful.
--If you have teenagers in your home, be alert to conversations regarding animal fighting. Teens of fathers who fight dogs or cocks may brag about it at school.

Why not contact law enforcement first?

Although many law enforcement officials act diligently, we prefer to gather as much evidence first. We not only make their job easier but we have the undercover equipment (and the passion) to gather the evidence that will lead to a prosecution. And that, is the ultimate answer to top this evil.

We hope Michael Vick dreams of throwing passes in a cramped jail cell for years. Fans of his, who find this "manly" sport so glamorous, might think twice.