Petition to outlaw commercial dog fighting contests

It is my understanding of US law that dog-fighting is ALREADY illegal in all 50 States, but penalties and enforcement vary - perhaps a lawyer can check up exact legislation concerning this abominable practice...

dog fighting penalities
dog fighting penalities
6/15/07

It was a bit of a surprise when federal agents raided the compound owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Surry County, Va., recently and took over an investigation into allegations of dogfighting. Even the local authorities in Surry who've been conducting their own probe were stunned by the federal action. Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter said, "I'm amazed, to be quite honest."

The government's action raises questions. Here are some answers . . .

Federal investigators have been scouring Michael Vick's property in rural Virginia looking for evidence of dogfighting. What's going on? And how did the U.S. government become involved?

Using powerful laws that were enacted only a month ago (a bill known as HR 137), agents of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are determining whether Vick and others should be prosecuted for promoting and sponsoring dogfights. The new federal law makes it a felony to organize a dogfight. A subdivision of the agriculture department is pursuing similar cases elsewhere with considerable support from humane societies and local police departments. The Vick investigation is one of many across the U.S.

Vick says he knew nothing about any criminal activity on his property and that he was unaware anyone might have been staging dogfights there. If he knew nothing, what can happen to him?

If it is proved that the fighting took place, it will be difficult for Vick to persuade anyone that he didn't know about it. Federal agents are sifting through evidence gathered on Vick's acreage, going through his phone records call by call, and analyzing his financial accounts. If, for example, they can connect a flurry of calls to a night of dogfighting, or if they find payment for dog food or other canine expenses charged to Vick, he could face a serious legal problem. Even if he can somehow persuade the authorities that he knew nothing about the fighting of dogs on his compound, he might face liability under the tough, new federal law. So far, that new law has been used less than a dozen times; as the courts apply it, more precise definitions of "sponsoring" and "promoting" will develop. Vick and his lawyers will be watching these legal developments very closely. In addition, under Virginia law, Vick can be prosecuted if the authorities can show that he was "aware" of dogfighting.

Is this something Vick should worry about?

Definitely. The local police and the county prosecutor were taking their time in their investigation of Vick and the 66 dogs seized on his property. Poindexter, the Commonwealth's Attorney, refused to execute a search warrant on Vick's property, and that's a rare event in the world of law enforcement. In fact, he actually let the warrant expire, creating the impression that things might be worked out in a friendly settlement with the local authorities. But the day after the county search warrant expired, the USDA agents were on the scene armed with their own search warrant. So instead of reluctant local cops, Vick appears now to be up against the might of the federal government.

What can the federal government do to Vick?

The USDA and other federal agencies will now be sifting through all aspects of his life. The dogfighting investigation easily could grow into examinations of his income, taxes and other holdings. If they find sufficient evidence, the federal agencies will submit it to the U.S. Department of Justice and then, possibly, to a grand jury for indictment.

Is dogfighting a serious crime? If Vick was involved in it, what can happen to him?

Until last month, a federal dogfighting charge was a misdemeanor and likely would result in probation and a fine. Now, though, the recently strengthened federal law provides draconian penalties for people involved in dogfighting. There's a jail term of three years, and there's a fine of $250,000. And if that isn't enough, those penalties are per dog. Remember, the police confiscated 66 dogs in the raid on Vick's property. These laws are the result of powerful lobbying by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal protections groups. Their lobby is as powerful as the gun lobby.

If you breed dogs for fighting, are you in trouble?

Yes, the trouble begins the moment the dogs are thrown into the ring to fight.

Even if he wasn't a part of the suspected dogfighting operation, was Vick involved in breeding the dogs on the property in question?

There was a valid license in effect for a kennel and for the breeding of dogs on Vick's property, but it wasn't in Vick's name. The treasurer of Surry County issued the license to one Tony Taylor at Vick's address on Moonlight Road. Although Vick has said he knew nothing about any dogfighting on his estate, Vick's name and Taylor's name were linked on a web site for "Mike Vick K-9 Kennels" located at an address in Suffolk, Va., which is near Smithfield. The web site, which is currently unavailable, included a statement to the effect that none of the kennel's dogs were used for fighting. Still, Vick could face problems if USDA agents connect Taylor to dogfights and examine the life of the site. Did Vick pay for it? Who originated it? Who ordered it taken down? It could add to Vick's problems.

What about Tony Taylor? What's happened to him?

The answer to those questions could also add to Vick's trouble. After the initial raid in late April, Vick threw Taylor off his property as part of the effort to show that he was not involved in dogfighting. Now, with federal agents snooping around everywhere, what will Taylor do? It's possible that he feels betrayed by Vick. Will he seek to make a deal with the agents in return for testimony about Vick and the dogs? Taylor might be able to escape prosecution by helping in a case against Vick. It's one more thing for Vick to worry about.

Does dogfighting lead to other unsavory activities? Are there other laws that should have Vick worried?

Yes and yes. Humane Society and law enforcement experts agree that although the dogfight might be the centerpiece of the evening, other things generally happen that capture the attention of police and federal agents. There is an admission fee for the event, usually $100 per person. It's paid in cash and can lead to consequences in a federal investigation. Alcohol usually is sold, which means more cash and more trouble. There is heavy gambling on the outcomes of the fights, another violation of criminal laws. And there are often guns and drugs in abundance, leading to still more problems. Undercover agents attending a dogfight barely know where to begin taking notes and making arrests.

Are they doing this just because Vick is a famous quarterback?

No. The USDA and the humane societies are engaged in a major effort to end animal fighting in the U.S. They are interested in people who promote and sponsor dogfights. It might matter to some of the animal-rights lobbyists who can use Vick's celebrity to promote their causes; but legally, Vick's football success is inconsequential. In Dayton, Ohio, for example, the USDA and other federal and state agencies investigated a dogfighting operation for 14 months, seized 64 dogs, and indicted nine people. Last week, state authorities in Ohio charged another 38 who were involved in the same scheme. All 38 are charged with state felonies. Although that investigation began with a dogfighting conspiracy, it quickly led to drug, gun and gambling charges as well. The charges even include bartered purchases of food stamp machines. The payments for the food stamp machines, which produce valuable food stamps for use as cash in retail stores, included a stolen Corvette and wholesale quantities of cocaine.

Is dogfighting illegal everywhere?

Yes. It's a felony in 48 states and a misdemeanor in Wyoming and Idaho. But the new federal law trumps state laws. If you're involved in dogfighting, you now face the prospect of a federal prosecution with agents of the USDA, FBI and IRS coming after you.

What will happen to Vick's house and the black buildings in the backyard where, investigators suspect, dogfighting was carried out?

Now that the federal government is involved, there is a real possibility that the house and the land will be forfeited to the government. If charges are filed against Vick or anyone else, the government will demand that the property be taken from Vick. Vick is in the process of selling the real estate to an unknown buyer, but the sale might not happen if federal charges are filed. In the Ohio case, the federal prosecutors are asking for similar forfeitures.

Vick apparently wasn't living in the house. What will happen to the people who were?

Their situation is just as bad as the dilemma facing Vick. If investigators determine that dogfighting, in fact, was taking place there and Vick is able to convince authorities that he was not involved, then the focus of the probe will turn to those who were training and fighting the dogs found on the property. They will be subject to the same tougher laws that Vick now faces.

ESPN.com's Lester Munson is a Chicago lawyer and journalist who has been reporting on investigative and legal issues in the sports industry for 18 years.

i was plannin gon weight training my pitbull, but all this pitbull banning and dogfighting is really making me sorta think twice.

They are such great dogs i couldnt imagine them fighting its horrible.

ogionik


I despise dog owners who train their dogs to attack. They ruin the breed as well as the lives of the dogs and the risk to other people and animals.

My son, at age 47, was attacked by two giant rottweiler dogs, resulting in being serious bitten and traumatized. My dog lover son's 6'3" height saved his life as he boxed with them (they were as tall as he was) until police arrived (they had been searching for the dogs after receiving calls) and shot and killed the dogs. The dogs were imported from Germany and were trained to kill as guard dogs. They escaped from the business' enclosure fence and were attacking cars and buildings before they attacked my son, who had just arrived at his workplace.

Guard Dogs
Go Pets America
Guard Dogs

Owning a guard dog has become a fact of life for millions of Americans. To the business community, specially trained guard dogs, usually Dobermans or German Shepherds, have become an extension of corporate activity. To individuals, they represent an extension of the police force, guaranteeing safety and security for them, their families, and their property. Correctly trained, a guard dog can protect you and your home from burglars and other intruders.

What do we mean when we talk about a guard dog? The vast majority of people don't really know what a guard dog is. The term "guard dog" remains fuzzy, undefined, and usually suggests images of a large, ferocious dog ready to defend, attack, maim, even kill on command. It is often loosely used to describe any dog used for the protection of one's person and home. Many dog trainers will object to this use of the term as a catch-all term. Properly defined, a dog trained for personal protection should be called a "personal protection dog" and a dog trained to guard property and patrol premises should be called "guard dog".

There are roughly three categories into which the guard dog falls.

Alarm dog is a guard dog trained to bark. Such dogs are trained to do nothing but let out a rough, aggressive bark. The larger the dog, the deeper the bark. However, the alarm dog will take no protective action. He may do so on is own, but not as part of his training.

Sentry dogs usually patrol inside fenced areas and buildings with or without a handler and are often used in facilities with no evening security personnel, especially in warehouses where they can be turned loose to roam inside. Sentry dogs are the ultimate deterence. They are trained to indiscriminitely attack anyone entering the premises.

Attack dog (sometimes called "man-stopper") is a dog trained to attack, bite and, if necessary, kill. They are trained to respond to sudden movements and aggressive physical behavior. These dogs are used by police, industry, shipyards, and the Armed Forces. They are potential killers, deadly weapons that only experts can control. These dogs should not be owned by general public.

As a rule, guard dogs and police K-9 dogs are conditioned to be suspicious of all strangers. These dogs cannot turn their training when they are in public. They have not been trained to discriminate between innocent physical contact and threatening behavior. Guard dogs are typically alpha leaders and alpha dictators. Alpha dictators are extremely dangerous because of their earnest desire to demonstrate their authority. Most guard dogs cannot be safe family pets.

Select your dog from the first two categories if you want a guard. The responsibility is simply too great. An attack guard dog may attack and even kill a person who acts in an apparently suspicious way - indeed, he has been trained to do so. Or else, the trainer may have made a mistake, and the dog will turn on the owner or a member of the family. You could be in for a major law suit because of what the dog might do. Attack dogs have no place in your home.

Protection dogs are family dogs that will protect their families in a crisis situation, will defend and try to save their family, rather than attack and bite. They are trained to be good companions that will be good with children and friends. However, if the master is physically attacked, they will take some kind of protective action - jumping, snarling, seizing, or chasing. In general, Airedale Terrier, Belgian Sheepdog, Bouvier des Flandres, Rottweiler, Boxer, Briard, Doberman, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Giant Schnauzer, and Chow, are excellent for this purpose.

For a breed that was adapted to the role of the guard dog, the Giant Schnauzer has succeeded remarkably. While not as popular in the United States as some other breeds, the rest of the world knows and respects this breed as a premier police and military dog. Many European countries actually prefer the Giant to all other such breeds since these dogs have distinguished themselves as first-rate guard/protection dogs.

Due to their selective breeding as protection dogs, Doberman Pinchers possess a strong natural instinct to protect their pack members and territory. The Doberman will alarm his master of any suspicious activity on his territory as any good watchdog will do, but he will also display willingness to take matters in his own hands - teeth is a better word - and his eagerness to do so is generally unrivaled among his working dog counterparts. Dobermans are ofthen the choice of guard and Schutzhund trainers for attack training. As a protection dog, a stable Doberman is an excellent choice, when he receives leadership and proper exercise. But this breed is not for everyone.

Strong protective instincts. As police dogs, they excel in many areas of law enforcement, including drug detection, tracking, cadaver search, and apprehending suspects. Puppies need pack training and obedience training can begin as early as three months. When a Rottweiler become s a pack leader, the consequences can be tragic for his owners: they are invariably at the top of the list of dog breeds involved in dog bite fatalities.

For centuries, Mastiffs have been used as sentry dogs in Europe. Because of there massive size, they are excellent deterrents to trespassers. Most guard dogs first warn there victims with noise, but Mastiffs work silently. They will knock intruders to the ground with force and weight (a two-hundred pound Mastiff is not uncommon.)

As protection dogs, quality German Shepherds are regarded highly. Their alertness, loyalty, combined with high intelligence, and a love of children make them a superb choice. According to one of the most famous guard dog trainers, Captain Haggerty, "This is the best all-around guard dog."

The Belgian Malinois is greatly renowned for his exceptional ability as an all-purpose working dog. He is highly appreciated as a police and service dog and has proven his utility as a guide dog for the blind, and as a Red Cross, customs, border patrol, avalanche, disaster and rescue dog. He ranks high in protection work and enjoys the reputation of being a hard-biting Schutzhund dog.

As a family protection dog, Boxer ranks high. This is a breed that possesses an extraordinary ability of discriminating when it comes to reading the character of people.

Great Dane is an impressive guard dog if he simply stands still and barks. It is as a deterrent that the Great Dane does his best work as a guard dog. Some do reasonably well in guard dog training. They just don't seem to relish such work the way Dobermans, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and other working dog breeds do.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are tough, but not vicious. Loyal and exceedingly protective of their human families, these large hounds do an excellent job as guard dogs.

Resembling more the Bullmastiff than the Bulldog of English origin, the American Bulldog is a strong dog that is often used in weight pulling eventys. This breed is fast gaining popularity as a family protection dog.

Traditionally used for dog fighting and known for his territorial and determined nature, the Presa Canario is a powerful deterrent that can react with great speed in a crisis situation. The Presa possesses a steady disposition, though he distrusts strangers. He is an accomplished fighter and has a deep, chilling bark well suited to warning suspicious strangers of his intentions and abilities.

Steady, resolute and fearless, the Bouvier des Flandres is an all-around service, police, and guard dog and also an outstanding family companion. He has an innate propensity to protect and guard his human family and territory. He differs from other working breeds in his serene, calm and thoughtful nature. Because of his laid-back disposition, he is more amenable to control than many other working breeds. Some individuals can be stubborn and aggressive, so he needs strong leadership from his owner.

The Beauceron is gaining recognition around the world as competent guard dog and protector. He has a most keen sense of smell and during the World War II he was used as mine detection dog and on the front lines to run messages as he was undeterred by exploding bombs or military fire. They were also used to pick up trails, detect mines, find the wounded and carry food and ammunition to the front lines. Highly trainable and always willing to work, Beaucerons are used by the French police and Army in apprehension of criminals (tracking and bite work), personal protection, narcotics detection, riot control, search and rescue, body recovery, prison security and secured escort.

Do not attempt to train a personal protection dog yourself. When he is about 6 months old, enroll him in a dog training school that will teach him the protective measures.

I've actually seen an interview with two Redskin players, Portis and Samuels, who noted that pit-bull fighting was simply a normal part of ghetto culture and they could not understand what the fuss was about. One noted he could take the report to dog fights any night of the week if the reporter was interested.

The only halfway rational reason for ANYBODY to keep pit bulls that I've ever heard of is hog hunting and that doesn't exist in ghettos.

The problem here isn't Vick. If the country is going to tolerate radically different cultures for different races and ethnic groups, it might have to learn to deal with these kinds of things.

Particularly if one of our two parties is going to to around talking about "celebrating diversity"... Vick would likely be correct in telling the Nancy Pelosis and Howard Deans of the world "This is diversity, CELEBRATE it .."

Another part of this evil mixture is Chuck Darwin and the evil consequences of evil ideas. Newt Gingrich has noted that the question of whether a man views his neighbor as a fellow child of God or as a meat byproduct of random events has to affect human relationships.

Our relationships with the animal world are not different. A dog or cat viewed as a creation of God put here deliberately for companionship to humans is likely going to get treated differently from an animal viewed as dirt which has been temporarily animated by stochastic processes.

These kinds of ideas have been floating around for the last 150 years and have brought about two world wars and untold suffering amongst humans. You might legitimately want to send Michael Vick to some sort of a re-education camp to get disabused of such ideas, you can't reasonably BLAME him for them.

To try to paint dogfighting as "a black thing" (or any particular ethnicity's "thing") is the height of ignorance, and racial stereotyping at its seamiest. Dogfighting is an international phenomenon, with websites, magazines, high stakes wagers and a loyal underground clientele. It stretches across all geographic and ethnic boundaries, and is inclusive of all - rich and not - who desire to partake of its questionable "enjoyment".

All I can tell you is that in 60+ years of living in the normal parts of America I've seen and experienced all kinds of things, but I not only have never seen a dog fight, I've never even seen any evidence of them and I positively would not be able to tell anybody where to go or who to talk to in order to watch one.

I assume the same is true of most white Americans.

Sooo... You are asking people to sign a petition asking the Congress to pass a law that they already passed last month?

Something is missing in the soup here.

You assume a lot. You assume it's a "ghetto" or "black culture" phenomenon. You assume "most white Americans" see this as you do. I sure hope they're pleased with you as a spokesperson.

Seems like a reasonable assumption to me. I mean, if you know of some place for watching dogfights in a white neighborhood, let's hear it.

You can't really be this stupid. You've got to be just pretending. Someone tell me he's just pretending.

Snood - nobody says there aren't many excellent black people in all kinds of neighborhoods; here's just one of them >



> but if you look at videos taken in dogfights (seized by police as evidence) you'll see very, very, few white faces. That's just a fact; another fact is that the arrests for dogfighting take place in mostly black neighborhoods. Gunga may or may not be an idiot but stating the truth doesn't make him one.

Bumblebee - glad you looked up applicable law yourself; federal law of course trumps state laws, so your petition should really be withdrawn until the wording is right. Sorry can't help you there, but we have several lawyers on this site - or maybe Fishin' can be of assistance, as my impression is he worked for the federal government.

Thanks for the work you do on behalf of darling animals

Fishin


At the time I wrote the petition, I didn't know congress had passed a remedy Bill only a month earlier. However, there were still two states that consider dog fighting only a misdemeanor, which the federal law will supercede.

I had good intentions but was a little late in my attempted action.

BBB

Basically another one of these stupid things where blacks still do **** that English people used to do in 1620 AD but that nobody's ever heard of normal white people doing for the last two centuries.

The good news is that blacks don't start world wars because of ideologies based on darwinism (i.e. they keep their own shitty habits on a smaller scale...)

The "truth" is relative in alot of cases. All you ever see getting arrested for drug use are black people, but there are more white drug users. The fact that you see videos of dogfighting among black people means nothing as far as extrapolating who patronizes this "pastime" overall.

I should point out that Federal Law doesn't always trump state or local laws. The Feds have toi have jurisdiction in the specific case for Federal law to take over. Things like transporting dogs to be used in fights across state lines, holding the fights on Federal property, etc... would give the Federal law the edge but it would still be used less often than the various state laws.

Fishin' - that's exactly the point! Before you start such efforts you got to check your facts, otherwise you eventually induce fatigue to people who are in principle supporters of the same cause; people feel they marched, signed petitions, wrote to Congress, and nothing happened.

Anyone too lazy to check basics shouldn't get involved at all - he only causes more damage.

Kerry of Massachusetts wants to introduce legislation as well, so note the wording:


http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-90176sy0jul21,0,2361400.story?coll=dp-news-local-final