Animal Planet to Air Dogfighting Report

I received this from the Humane Society regarding a program to premiere January 25 on Animal Planet. It's the first episode ever of "Animal Planet Investigates: Dogfighting Exposed."

Unfortunately, I don't get Animal Planet, but I'm pleased to see them running edgier programming. Many people may not think this is all that edgy, but I'm still happy to see it, especially when it's easy in television to stick with softball, happy shows. They wouldn't try this topic if they thought their audience wouldn't go for it. To me, that's progress.

Biggest Dogfighting Raid in US History

It happened about a week ago with up to 350 dogs seized in 5 states. About 30 people were arrested.

Vick Back Home

Vick has returned to his home in Virginia. From the AJC:

He will spend the next two months being monitored at home and working a $10-an-hour job as a construction laborer. He’s scheduled to be released from federal custody on July 20, and then faces three years of supervised probation.

Vick’s construction job is part of his probation, and he was to find out more about the restrictions he faces in home confinement from the probation officers, though it was not clear if those guideline were laid out Thursday.

Expect the Great Vick Image Rehabilitation Campaign in the coming weeks and months.

Georgia Dog-Fighting Law Having an Impact

This is a good thing. The American Southeast is a hotbed of blood sports.

This information is from Best Friends.

Before 2008, only one person had been incarcerated for dog fighting in Georgia. Considering the state had one of the weakest dog-fighting laws in the nation, that's no compliment.

But since a new and tougher dog fighting law was passed in May 2008, multiple arrests have been made, with more on the horizon....

Georgia's new dog fighting law makes it a felony to train, transport, sell or own a fighting dog, or to advertise, promote or bet on fights. A first conviction means one to five years in prison, a fine of at least $5,000, or both. The law also makes attending a dog fight a high and aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense, a felony on subsequent ones.

Jamie Foxx: Something Stupid This Way Comes

Jamie Foxx opens his mouth again. This time it's an exceptionally irresponsible, ignorant comment, especially considering the recent news about the growth in dogfighting in Texas.

As the quest for the first dog continues, Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx thinks he's come up with the perfect solution for the President-elect and his family.

"A pitbull," the entertainer said.

"(I'm) trying to pick out Barack Obama's Christmas puppy right now, so we're working hard on that," he joked. "I think I'm going to get him a pitbull, we just got to keep it street."

I know he likes to shock people, but it's irritating. He's promoting the idea that a pitbull is not a pet, but a symbol of "street" cred. The subtext is that it's how you reflect your manhood. Young people hear that kind of talk and believe it.

Dogfighting will continue as long as this stupid meme of pits being a public display of men's genitalia continues. And as long as people like Jamie Foxx keep shooting off their mouths with such ideas.

Dogfighting Grows in Texas

From the New York Times....

Investigators found that dogfighting was on the rise in Texas and was much more widespread than they had expected. The ring broken up here had links to dogfighting organizations in other states and in Mexico, suggesting an extensive underground network of people devoted to the activity, investigators said.

Besides a cadre of older, well-established dogfighters, officials said, the sport has begun to attract a growing following among young people from hardscrabble neighborhoods in Texas, where gangs, drug dealing and hip-hop culture make up the backdrop.

The investigation here led to the indictments of 55 people and the seizing of 187 pit bulls, breaking up what officials described as one of the largest dogfighting rings in the country.

“It’s like the Saturday night poker game for hardened criminals,” said one of the undercover agents, Sgt. C. T. Manning, describing the tense atmosphere at the fights.

Disgusting and disturbing.

Portugal Deals with Same Issues Around Dogfighting

This link is to ANIMAL's blog, written in Portuguese. Essentially, it sounds like they are having the same issues as we have in the US regarding dog fights and dog attacks.

There are dog fights and dog attacks in Portugal and, per the December 5 post, the government came up with some legislation without consulting any animal rights groups. ANIMAL says that the legislation is not effective and is too loose. Plus, the government is demonizing certain breeds of dogs even though they are very much victims.

At least they are doing something about it. I'm pretty shocked about that. In the Azores, where my family is from, I don't think there are any laws whatsoever.

Vick Allegedly Put Family Pets in Ring to be Killed

This is the allegation as reported on TMZ.

In just released report, a person identified as confidential witness No. 1 says Vick actually placed family pets in the ring against pit bulls owned by "Bad Newz Kennels" and watched as the animals ruthlessly attacked the domesticated dogs causing "major injuries."

Here's hoping he dies broke and alone.

Dogfighting Ring Broken in Texas

Looks like a lot of people, and dogs, were involved.

Authorities already have seized 187 animals from Harris, Montgomery and Tyler counties connected to the operation. As many as 100 people attended the fights, placing bets as high as $1,000 for a single match.

Detailed records kept by those involved should help authorities prosecute the eight people arrested Friday and the 47 other suspects who have been indicted, but not yet arrested.

Anti-Dog Fighting Bill Introduced in Guam

Get this, though, it's to protect the HUMANS.

A bill that seeks to criminalize dog fighting on the island has been introduced. The measure’s author, Senator Ray Tenorio says he wants the law on the books to prevent attacks on children and adults from the animals. He says several sources have confirmed there are currently underground fighting rings.

AND he supports cock-fighting.

And while animal-rights activists nation-wide equate cockfighting and dog fighting, Tenorio doesn’t see the need to ban the local sport just yet, saying cockfighting is a cultural activity and the potential for dogs to attack is higher than roosters.

Photo by acberkheiser.

Vick Personally Hung at Least One Dog to Death

If you're wondering why the Judge was so hard on Vick, it's because he's a lying sack of dog-doo. No, I'm not talking about when he initially blamed his cousins for all of this (what a guy!). After he agreed to the plea agreement, he continued to lie about his personal involvement in killing dogs. Here's the money quote from SI's George Dohrmann:

In Monday's hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gill revealed that even after reaching his plea agreement, Vick "denied actually having hands-on involvement in the killing of dogs." He maintained that stance for weeks, claiming that co-conspirators Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace hung and drowned the dogs.

But then Vick was given a polygraph on Oct. 12, administered by the FBI, and he was evasive when asked about his role in the killings. Near the end of the examination, as he was pressed on the issue, Vick reportedly said, "If you want me to admit it, I did it all. I did everything." Finally, he explained his role: "I carried a dog over to Phillips, who tied a rope around its neck. I dropped the dog."

That's right. He dropped the dog. Then he probably stood there watching the dog struggling and gasping it's last breath. No wonder he kept lying about it. What a sadistic monster.

Vick May Have to Pay Falcons Back $20 Million

Ouch. Looks like Vick might be giving up more then his job and freedom.

Michael Vick has already paid a heavy price for his role in a gruesome dogfighting ring: a brilliant career on hold, the possibility of prison time, the loss of lucrative endorsement deals.

He might have to tack on another $20 million to the cost.

The disgraced quarterback lost the first round in his financial battle with the Atlanta Falcons when an arbitrator ruled Tuesday that Vick should repay most of the bonus money he got while secretly bankrolling the long-running operation.

The case is far from over. The NFL Players Association said it will appeal the ruling by Stephen B. Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor and special master who oversaw last week's arbitration hearing in Philadelphia.

The Falcons argued that Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges, knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal in December 2004.

The team said he used proceeds from the contract to fund his illicit activities and sought the repayment of $19,970,000 in bonuses he was paid over the last three years.

Photo and artwork by Futternut

Vick's Dogs May Get to Live

48 of 49 dogs appear to have some chance for placement based on behavior testing.

An examination of 49 dogs seized in the Michael Vick dogfighting case has found that only one canine is an immediate candidate for euthanasia.

Working under contract with the Department of Agriculture, a team of veterinarians assembled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals conducted "individualized behavior testing" last month to gauge each dog's behavior toward other animals and humans.

That's interesting. I hope they know what they are doing. It's great the dogs may live, but they have to be very careful that one isn't a ticking time bomb.

Photo courtesy littlerottenrobin.