Looks like the Atlanta Falcons may like having their own little suspected dog abuser still on the team. They sure don’t seem to be paying much attention to the evidence mounting up against the pigskin-tossing suspect.
Check out the all the articles on Vick’s dog-fighting connections and evidence that he WAS personally involved.
This article from AOL Sports Blog links Vick directly to buying items for the dogs and their “training.”
Report: Michael Vick Bought Syringes for Fighting Dogs
Posted May 4th 2007 by Michael David SmithMary Kay Mallonee, a reporter for the television station WAVY, has been investigating the Michael Vick dog-fighting story, and in a radio interview today, she described Vick’s property as “a huge operation” where investigators found blood-soaked carpeting and wounded dogs.
And perhaps the most damaging news for Vick is that Mallonnee interviewed employees of a store near Vick’s property and reported:
“There’s a store nearby and the clerks there said, ‘Yeah, he comes in here often to buy supplies, lots of supplies, for the dogs, including things like syringes.'”
I don’t know what Vick would be doing with syringes for dogs, but I can’t imagine that it would be good. There’s still a lot we don’t know about this case, but what we do know indicates that Vick knew a property he owned was being used as a dog-fighting compound.
Meanwhile, the Humane Society is citing Vick as well as other NFL players past and present in telling commissioner Roger Goodell that he his league has a serious problem with dog fighting and cruelty to animals. This is very bad for Vick and for the NFL.
Follow this link to read more and hear radio interview.
Here’s a USA Today article.
Website links Vick to dog-selling business
ATLANTA (AP) More than a week after an alleged dog-fighting ring was uncovered on property owned by Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons still have little to say about their quarterback’s potential legal problems.
General manager Rich McKay vowed to take a closer look after wrapping up last weekend’s NFL draft, but he has declined to speak further on the case.
Through spokesman Reggie Roberts, McKay and the Falcons declined comment Thursday.
Police conducting a drug investigation raided a Vick-owned house in Smithfield, Va., and reported finding dozens of dogs, some injured and emaciated.
Investigators also discovered items associated with dog fighting, including veterinary supplies, blood-soaked carpeting, treadmills used for training and tools used to pry apart a dog’s jaws.
Vick said he’s never been to the home, even though he owns it and was letting a cousin live there. He blamed relatives for taking advantage of his generosity and vowed to keep closer tabs on his inner circle.
While Vick said he’s not involved in dog fighting, a website shed light on his apparent interest in breeding through a business known as “Mike Vick K-9 Kennels.”
The site, www.VicksK9Kennels.com, said Vick specializes in breeding registered puppies ranging from rare pit bull terriers to “the highly intelligent and powerful Presa Canario.” It also contains a disclaimer that none of its dogs were used for fighting.
“We breed specifically for ourselves first and foremost, and when/if we do sell puppies to the public, all prospective buyers are carefully screened,” the website says. “We do not promote, support, or raise dogs for fighting and will not knowingly sell, give, or trade any dog that may be used for fighting.
“Our dogs are all family pets,” the site adds, “and our puppies are all socialized and home raised.”
The address for Vick’s K-9 Kennel was listed as Moonlight Road in Suffolk, Va. The home that was raided last week is on Moonlight Road in nearby Smithfield. The listed phone number wasn’t working.
For now, the Falcons seem willing to take Vick at his word. In the team’s only public comments on the incident, McKay and coach Bobby Petrino both commended the quarterback for working hard in the offseason program.
“There’s a lot of people around Michael, and things happen,” McKay said last weekend during the draft. “We’ve got to get it to the point where those things are not happening.”
The Falcons apparently want authorities to reveal more details on the investigation before they comment on Vick’s possible involvement in the sordid case. Dog fighting in a felony in Virginia and 47 other states, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
Commonwealth’s attorney Gerald Poindexter did not return two messages seeking comment Thursday. Surry County Sheriff Harold Brown was out of the office and a dispatcher said there was no one else who could talk about the case.
The NFL, which has cracked down on wayward players since Roger Goodell took over as commissioner, also was investigating the dog-fighting case. In fact, Vick was summoned to a meeting with Goodell last Saturday while in New York for the draft.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
Here’s an article from the San Jose Mercury News Reporting that the Humane Society of the United States is calling for the NFL to ban players connected to dogfighting from playing in NFL games.
Humane Society incited by Vick incident
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
Article Launched: 05/04/2007ATLANTA- A prominent animal-rights group called on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to ban players who are involved in dog fighting, saying it was especially troubled that evidence of the deadly activity was allegedly found at a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
The Humane Society of the United States sent a letter to Goodell on Thursday, calling on the NFL to “collaborate with us in an organized effort to eradicate animal cruelty and illegal animal fighting activity from the ranks of the NFL.”
“We believe that the current situation involving Michael Vick is indicative of a larger subculture within the NFL of dog fighting and other forms of violence against animals,” wrote Wayne Pacelle, chief executive officer of the Humane Society.
While conducting a drug investigation last week, Virginia authorities raided a home owned by Vick, though he wasn’t the one being targeted. The investigators reported finding dozens of dogs, some injured and malnourished, and evidence of dog fighting.
The Humane Society has alleged that veterinary supplies, blood-soaked carpeting, treadmills used for training, scales for weighing the animals and tools used to pry apart a dog’s jaws were confiscated from the property.
Pacelle said his group “tracks 10 underground dog fighting magazines and a laundry list of Web sites, and we can assure you that this is a major underground criminal industry.” He also repeated the group’s claims that it suspected Vick was involved in dog fighting long before last week’s raid.
The NFL has said it is investigating the case, and Goodell summoned Vick to a private meeting while the quarterback was in New York last weekend for the NFL draft. An after-hours message left on the cell phone of league spokesman Greg Aiello was not immediately returned.
Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team had no comment on the Humane Society’s letter. Vick has maintained that he never visited the home, even though he owned it and allowed a cousin to live there. He blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity and said he felt like a victim too.
The Humane Society is skeptical of Vick’s explanation.
“The problem of illegal animal fighting and other forms of animal cruelty is widespread, but they have a particular significance where high-profile sports personalities are concerned because of the influence the behavior and habits of these athletes have over fans,” Pacelle wrote.
Vick isn’t the only player facing the wrath of animal-rights advocates. Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux is facing felony charges in the death of his girlfriend’s dog. The player has denied responsibility.
“We hope you will collaborate with The HSUS to combat animal cruelty and animal fighting in order to send a clear message to the public that the NFL does indeed intend to hold its players to the highest standards,” Pacelle said in his letter to Goodell.
“By setting an example of compassion for the public, the NFL has the chance to tackle the problem of animal cruelty and animal fighting from the top down and to truly make a difference for our communities.”
While Vick has denied involved in dog fighting, he does have an apparent interest in breeding animals such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. A Web site for “Mike Vick K-9 Kennels” includes a disclaimer that any of its dogs are used for fighting, which is banned nationwide and is a felony in 48 states including Virginia and Georgia.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
And here’s another USA Today article claiming that poor Michael is “hurting inside” after getting called on the carpet by an NFL official. Awwwwww. Poor thing! Unlike the dogs he and his family have (probably) abused poor little Mikey can go recuperate on his millions of dollars and soft furniture. That’s so much worse than the torture felt by the dogs, isn’t it?
Vick ‘hurting’ inside after talk with Goodell
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Michael Vick confirmed in a TV interview taped Saturday that he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss problems that have plagued the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback this offseason.
“After what happened … I just wanted to crawl in a hole. I can’t take it no more,” Vick told ESPN. “I walk around with a smile on my face and act like I’m happy, but on the inside it’s hurting. And it’s killing me. I ain’t got no more energy left for it. The more I continue to do things and my name is in the media, I’m not going to get anywhere.”ESPN aired the interview during the second round of the NFL draft on Sunday.
Goodell requested time with Vick at Radio City Music Hall, where the NFL held the draft. Vick was in town to make an appearance on behalf of his alma mater, Virginia Tech, following the on-campus shootings that killed 33 people two weeks ago.
Falcons vice president of communications Reggie Roberts said he hadn’t spoken with Vick since his conversation with Goodell, but the quarterback’s personal problems have clearly embarrassed the NFL and the team.
