Updated Aug. 23, 2007 (CNN) -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is waiting to hear if he'll ever play professional football again after agreeing to plead guilty and face prison in his federal dogfighting case.
On Wednesday, July 18, a federal grand jury in Richmond indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three other men yesterday on charges related to their alleged operation of a dog fighting ring based at a property Vick owns in southeastern Virginia.
This indictment comes as a result of the April 25 raid on Vick’s house in Surry County, Va. Authorities reportedly found, 66 dogs (most of which were pit bulls), a dog-fighting pit, bloodstained carpets and equipment commonly associated with dog fighting. Vick, who was not at the scene and has repeatedly denied knowledge of dog fighting at the property; has increasingly come under fire from animal rights groups.
Vick, one of the NFL's most exciting players, was charged with competitive dog fighting and conducting the venture across state lines. The 19-page indictment alleged Vick was highly involved in the operation, alleging that he attended fights and paid off bets when his dogs lost. It said he also was involved in the executions of dogs that did not perform well. If convicted, Vick could face a total of up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. He could face additional discipline by the NFL, even if he is not convicted.
According to the indictment, Vick decided in his rookie season of 2001, with Phillips and Taylor, to start a dog fighting operation. Vick, who grew up in Newport News, paid $34,000 in June 2001 for a property at 1915 Moonlight Rd. and, according to the indictment, "used this property as the main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights."
The NFL said the matter would be reviewed under the league’s toughened 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,” the NFL said in a written statement. “We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."
However, sources close to Vick say, “He's a pit bull fighter.” An ESPN source said that Vick is“one of the ones that they call 'the big boys': that's who bets a large dollar. And they have the money to bet large money. As I'm talking about large money -- $30,000 to $40,000 -- even higher. He's one of the heavyweights."
Vick's associates, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor, were indicted on the same charges. The men, who named their enterprise the “Bad Newz Kennels,” developed the property for their dog fighting operation, building a house, "a fence to shield the rear portion of the compound from public view [and] multiple sheds used at various times to house training equipment, injured dogs and organized fights," the indictment said.
The indictment said that in April 2007, Peace, Phillips and Vick "executed approximately eight dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions by various methods, including hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground." Vick also is alleged to have consulted with Peace before Peace killed a losing dog by electrocution in 2003.
In the U.S., dog fighting is considered a felony in every state except Wyoming and Idaho. Additionally, transporting dogs over state lines for dog fighting is a federal crime.
Despite that fact, according to The Humane Society, it's estimated that somewhere between 20,000-40,000 people in this country take part in this multibillion-dollar industry.
American pit bull terriers account for 99 percent of the species involved in dogfighting, and a pit bull puppy can cost as much as $5,000. An average dog fight carries a $10,000 purse.
Obviously dog fighting is wrong. Dog fighting’s violent nature and appeal to gamblers has made the blood sport a brutal, malicious exploitation of “man’s best friend.” Dog fighting is severely cruel. Most fighting dog breeds, especially pit bulls are intensely loyal dogs and dogfighters exploit their positive characteristics to create violent animals.
The dogs aren't the only ones who suffer. It's impossible to estimate how many other animals and humans have been harmed by violent people who are desensitized to brutality, in part as a result of watching or participating in dog fighting and other forms of animal cruelty. Everyone is familiar with the cliché “Violence begets violence.” Laura Maloney, executive director of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, “Research proves that people who abuse animals are more likely to abuse people. In addition, fighting enthusiasts often bring young children to the fights, desensitizing them to violence and teaching them that violence is accepted by society.”
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