Drug probe leads to Vick property, discovery of...

[Gene]

Drug probe leads to Vick property, discovery of ailing dogs

April 26, 2007

SMITHFIELD, Va. (AP) -- Police conducting a drug investigation raided a house owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and found dozens of dogs, some injured and emaciated.

Police also found items associated with dog fighting.

State Police Sgt. D.S. Carr said Vick's relative, Davon Boddie, 26, lives in the house. Vick owns the property, but doesn't live there and wasn't present when a search warrant was executed in a drug investigation Wednesday night, Carr said.

Boddie was arrested outside a nightclub by Hampton police April 20 on charges of distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute. The search warrant was executed by a multijurisdictional task force in a narcotics probe.

More than 60 dogs were found in three buildings. Some appeared malnourished, scarred and injured, officials said.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, said the group has "heard troubling reports for some time that Michael Vick has been involved in organized dog fighting, and we fear that this investigation may validate that very disturbing allegation."

"We urge law enforcement to aggressively investigate this matter, and we further believe that anyone who harbors dogs for the purpose of fighting, deserves to be fully prosecuted for their crimes," Pacelle said in a statement. "Dog fighting is a barbaric activity that causes immense animal suffering and fosters violence in our communities. Our nation should have a zero tolerance policy for any form of staged animal fighting."

The Humane Society said dog fighting is illegal nationwide and a felony in 48 states, including both Virginia and Georgia.

The animal rights group PETA has asked Falcons owner Arthur Blank to suspend Vick pending the investigation and "to kick him off the team if it is found that dogs on Vick's property were neglected or used for fighting."

In a letter to Blank, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it was the second time it was writing to the owner about one of his players and allegations of cruelty to animals. On Feb. 23, the organization wrote to him about defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux's felony charges in Georgia stemming from the fatal beating of a dog.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team still was gathering information on the report and had no immediate comment.

A spokeswoman for Vick's foundation declined comment. Joel Segal, the quarterback's agent, and Larry Woodward, a Virginia attorney who has worked with both Vick and his younger brother, Marcus, didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment.

The probe at Vick's property is the latest in a serious of embarrassing incidents for the Atlanta quarterback.

He was named in a sordid lawsuit that accused him of knowingly infecting a woman with a sexually transmitted disease and using the alias "Ron Mexico" while seeking treatment. The case was settled out of court.

Last season, Vick flashed an obscene hand gesture to heckling Atlanta fans as he walked off the field following a dismal loss to New Orleans. He was fined $10,000 by the NFL and donated another $10,000 to charity.

In January, security officers at Miami International Airport seized a water bottle from Vick that they said smelled of marijuana and had a hidden compartment. Authorities later said there were no drugs in the bottle, and Vick explained that he used the secret compartment to carry jewelry.

Just this week, Vick came under more criticism when he failed to show for a lobbying appearance on Capitol Hill in support of increased funding for after-school programs. He missed a connecting flight in Atlanta and didn't turn up for a later flight.

Vick and two other former Virginia Tech stars -- Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall and former Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith -- are scheduled to join Hokies football coach Frank Beamer and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a predraft ceremony in New York on Saturday to honor the victims of the recent shooting at the Blacksburg school.

Other athletes have been linked to dog fighting.

The NBA's Qyntel Woods pleaded guilty in January 2005 to animal abuse and was sentenced to probation and community service, in addition to pledging $10,000 to the Oregon Humane Society. Former NFL player LeShon Johnson has twice run afoul of the law for ties to dogfighting.

Updated on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 6:06 pm EDT

[mississippimudcat1]

Why!!! So STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:smileymudcats: :smileymudcats: :smileymudcats:

[expresszac]

Atlanta is my team and this is one of the reasons that they should have taken the deal offered to them by the Raiders for Vick. They would have gotten two top WR and their first round pick for Vick. Also they would still have Shaub which I think is a better QB. Vick is the better athlete but Shaub is the better QB. Now hopefully Atlanta's owner will have to live with this stupid decision in keeping Vick and this will totally destroy the team this year. I say to the Atlanta Falcons management this year.

[slocoma]

expresszac said:

Atlanta is my team and this is one of the reasons that they should have taken the deal offered to them by the Raiders for Vick. They would have gotten two top WR and their first round pick for Vick. Also they would still have Shaub which I think is a better QB. Vick is the better athlete but Shaub is the better QB. Now hopefully Atlanta's owner will have to live with this stupid decision in keeping Vick and this will totally destroy the team this year. I say to the Atlanta Falcons management this year.

Uh, Schaub was traded to the Texans in March.

[exit322]

The proposed vick-to-oakland trade was started before Schaub was dealt.

[slocoma]

Oh.

Why would the Raiders want Vick when they were already trying to get rid of problem child Moss.

[expresszac]

I know Shaub got traded in March and Moss was part of the deal.

[UnoBomber]

"to kick him off the team if it is found that dogs on Vick's property were neglected or used for fighting."

OMFG that's funny that PETA feels they have enough power to do this. Granted what was found is terrible. I will not get on my soap box to tell everyone the hatred I have for both PETA and the inHumane society, but if I was the Falcons owner, I think I'd send a letter telling them what I thought...

Dear PETA,


f**k OFF.

[Gene]

Web site promotes dog-selling business in Vick's name

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer
May 3, 2007

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 Web site 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 any 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 Web site 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.

Vick has been involved in several embarrassing episodes in recent months.

He was fined for flashing an obscene gesture to heckling Atlanta fans after a game, was stopped by airport security officers in Miami carrying a suspicious water bottle and failed to show for a scheduled appearance on Capital Hill to lobby for more after-school funding.



Updated on Thursday, May 3, 2007 6:37 pm EDT