Firstly, I'd like to warn everyone that you may find some facts of this case disturbing. If you can't stand to think about major cruelty and abuse towards an innocent creature of Earth, then I highly recommend you don't read this. This is intense subject matter.

"[...]" indicates a new update on the case.

Pet-Abuse.com wrote:

A search warrant has been issued for a property in Surry County owned by NFL Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick. Vick does not live at the home. It is inhabited by Vick's nephew. Police said Vick does not spend much time on the property. The search warrant was granted by the Surry County Circuit Court. A state task force went to the property searching for a person that they believed may be on the property, but the person was not Vick. Investigators would not reveal the name of the person they were searching for. While investigators were at the property, they discovered three buildings behind the home that housed several barking dogs. "When they had a chance to go to the site, they discovered animal neglect," Surry County Administrator Tyrone Franklin. Franklin said that the dogs appeared to be hungry and forgotten. Both state and county investigators were searching the property Wednesday afternoon. Several animal control trucks were also on the scene and dog barking was audible. No further information about the warrant has been released at this time. More information will be available after the investigation is complete. Early reports indicate that Vick was allegedly running a dog-fighting and cockfighting operation from the back of the home. The Virginia Animal Fighting Taskforce was on the scene. Authorities report that Vick had been under investigation for several years for illegal animal fighting. [...] Michael Vick will appear for a hearing at 3:30 p.m. on July 26, 2007 at the Federal Courthouse in Richmond, followed at 4:00 p.m. by his arraignment in the same court. [...] A federal grand jury indicted NFL quarterback Michael Vick and three others today on dogfighting charges. The charges are the first to be filed in an investigation that began in late April when police searched Vick’s Surry County property and found more than 50 pit bulls and items associated with dog fighting. The other men named in the indictment – all known Vick associates – are Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor. They and Vick were indicted on one count of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. Federal prosecutors filed a document earlier this month that detailed a dog fighting operation known as “Bad Newz Kennels” run out of Vick’s Surry County property at 1915 Moonlight Road. The outfit conducted dog fights from 2002 to 2007 with people from several other states and sometimes killed the losing dogs by electrocution, shooting, strangulation or drowning, according to the document, which did not name any of the suspected participants. Surry County authorities are also investigating the property but have not filed charges. [...] The dogfighting that allegedly took place on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's property followed strict guidelines, federal authorities have found. Federal prosecutors recently detailed in U.S. District Court documents the stringent rules used at the alleged dogfighting ring on property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va., The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday. While no charges have been filed yet in the case, federal prosecutors have made it clear such dogfighting efforts are illegal under current federal law. The Falcons quarterback has repeatedly denied having any involvement with the alleged operation, which prosecutors allege was run by the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting organization. The court documents detail how those in charge of the alleged dogfighting activities had imposed strict regulations to minimize cheating. The investigation also reportedly learned many of the dogs used in the suspected ring were starved in order to make them more aggressive in matches. The newspaper said prosecutors did not reveal where they had learned about the details surrounding the purported ring. [...] In an effort to obtain custody of the 53 pit bulls taken from NFL quarterback Michael Vick's property in April, federal officials have laid out in court papers details of an extensive interstate dogfighting ring they say was based at Vick's Surry County property. Legal experts say the civil action was the quickest way to get control of the dogs, which could be considered evidence of a crime. It also is a way to keep the dogs safe, experts said. "It's significantly faster than dealing with a criminal charge. There's no grand jury to deal with," said Virginia Beach attorney L. Steven Emmert. "The prosecutor simply files suit, and once a judge renders relief, the marshals have the authority to seize the dogs immediately," he said. As of late Monday afternoon, a federal judge had not acted on the seizure request. The dogs were still being kept at various animal shelters throughout the region. The federal court papers filed last week do not say where federal agents plan to take the dogs, but the animals could stay in the various shelters, with the federal government taking over payments for their care, according to federal law. Dogs seized from fighting ventures often become targets of theft. Some dogs can fetch as much as $30,000, said Alexander Taylor who, as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Richmond, prosecuted a dog fighting case this year. "They are very valuable, trust me," he said. The federal government could use its resources for measures to increase security, such as adding a guard, said John Goodwin, deputy manager of animal cruelty issues for The Humane Society of the United States. "There's a lot of people out there who could get street cred (credibility) by stealing a Vick dog," Goodman said. "Of course, they could get a lot of jail time, too." Meanwhile, Surry Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter, who was on vacation Friday when federal agents searched the Vick property for the second time in a month, said county investigators would be glad to share evidence the Sheriff's Department collected when 1915 Moonlight Road was first searched. "If they want it, they could certainly use it," Poindexter said. Poindexter has no plans to halt his local investigation. Surry County's next grand jury, when Poindexter could seek indictments, is July 24. He said he won't go "to the grand jury empty-handed." Neither Vick, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and a Newport News native, nor anyone else is named in the court papers, and no one has been charged. Vick has denied involvement in any illegal activity. His attorney refused to comment Monday. Authorities allege the dogfighting operation called "Bad Newz Kennels " has been operating out of the Vick property since 2002. Federal law prohibits interstate transport of animals used for fighting. If convicted of the felony, the maximum penalties are three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [...] Federal agents investigating possible dog fighting searched property owned by Michael Vick Friday. A Portsmouth tv station broadcast video of investigators working under a blue tarp on a portion of Vick's wooded property in southeastern Virginia. They were sifting dirt collected in white buckets and clearing brush. Some wore T-shirts with the wording "POLICE." Contacted by The Associated Press, the US Attorney's office would neither confirm nor deny the search or an investigation. Surry County officials could not immediately be reached for comment. During an April 25th drug raid at the property, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment commonly used in dog fighting. The search warrant affidavit says about half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact, an arrangement typical for fighting dogs. Later, after an informant suggested authorities could find as many as 30 dogs buried on the property, including seven buried only days before the initial raid. Surry County officials secured a search warrant, but never acted on it because prosecutor Gerald Poindexter said he had concerns with the document. Vick has said he had no idea the property may have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly. [...] Local veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck, one of the nation's top forensic vets, is assisting the prosecution in the investigation of dogfighting at property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Surry County, Virginia, she confirmed Monday. Merck said she was working with the Surry County sheriff's office and Commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter. Merck, of Canton, had no knowledge of what was removed from Vick's property last Thursday, when the office of inspector general, U.S. Department of Agriculture executed a warrant — the third at the property. "I wasn't involved in that aspect," Merck said. "I have no direct knowledge of what they found and no one has called (Monday) to give me an update." Merck said she couldn't comment on the specifics of her role in the investigation. Brown has said that he planned to set up a meeting this week to review the evidence in the case. Federal officials have declined comment about what they were searching for or what was found on the property during the search. Merck, who founded the Cat Clinic of Roswell in 1990, is considered one of the top animal crime scene investigators in the nation, according the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In December, Merck was the forensic vet that testified in the Fulton County case where two brothers were charged with torturing a puppy and then putting it in a heated oven to die (see case). The case ended in a hung jury and the brothers then pleaded guilty and were given the maximum sentence of five years on the felony animal abuse charges. In April, she was a part of a team that seized 45 dogs, including 44 pit bulls, in Pass Christian, Miss. and St. Bernard Parish, La. in a dogfighting investigation (see case). Merck and Randall Lockwood co-authored an award-winning book, Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty: A Guide for Veterinarians and Law Enforcement Professionals.

...Continued from above post.

Pet-Abuse.com wrote:

Surry County officials hope to learn next week what evidence federal authorities seized Thursday while executing a sealed search warrant at the Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Sheriff Harold Brown said he expected to have a meeting next week to review evidence collected in the investigation of dogfighting and animal cruelty at the property. If federal investigators decline to participate, local authorities will review evidence they have gathered in the six-week investigation, which remains ongoing, despite the federal involvement. James P. Knorr of the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified Commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter and Brown on Thursday that federal agents and state police were going to search the grounds at 1915 Moonlight Road. Investigators carried cardboard boxes from the area behind the house where there are dog kennels. A black SUV carrying plastic containers and boxes left the property and returned several times. "I hope what they found helps our case — either way," Brown told the Journal-Constitution. No local, state or federal agents were at the property Friday. Federal agents have refused comment on the investigation. A search warrant requested by federal authorities was not executed last week after Poindexter and Brown objected to some of the language. According to that warrant, which expired Thursday, an informant stated that up to 37 dog carcasses could be found buried on the property. Brown said he did not know if federal authorities would take over the case, if dual investigations would continue or if there would be a joint investigation. He added that he did not know when the search warrant would be unsealed but suggested that in federal cases sealed information might not become public until charges are filed, if not later. Local, state and federal investigators met two weeks ago in Surry County to review evidence. Knorr represented the USDA at that meeting. Vick has denied involvement in dogfighting in his one statement on the subject. He has refused comment since on the advice of his attorney. Should the evidence gathered by federal authorities show that dogs were killed, such as by gunfire or blunt force, charges far more severe than dogfighting could be brought on a state level, according to Poindexter. Federal charges and punishment also could prove more serious than for dogfighting, Poindexter added. As of now, local authorities don't have enough evidence to charge Vick or anyone else, Poindexter said. Poindexter has cautioned that as many as 10 people had access to the property. However, Poindexter said he did think there would be enough evidence — after this forthcoming review — to turn over to a grand jury on July 24, the next scheduled meeting. Poindexter said he did not know whether federal involvement would speed up the pace of the case, but he defended local authorities and his oversight. "We've been prudent," Poindexter said. "I'm trying to do my job. ... I'm interested to see how fast [federal authorities] move with this." A former South Carolina prosecutor told the AJC on Friday that he saw evidence that Vick kept dogs in that state while he was prosecuting a major dogfighting case in 2004. "I had actually heard, as part of our investigation, that Vick had some dogs here in South Carolina," said William Frick, the lead prosecutor in the David Ray Tant dogfighting case. Frick said he did not know what kind of dogs Vick had in South Carolina but that he assumed they were "fighting dogs." Asked for specifics, Frick said Vick had a "dog yard" and it was not something that would bring charges. Frick is no longer with the attorney general's office and currently is in private practice in Columbia. Tant, whom authorities labeled as the No. 2 dog breeder in the country, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 40-year prison term. "I'm not surprised to hear that somewhere here in South Carolina that we have a connection," Frick said. "But as far as whether it's Tant or not, I really don't know if they dealt with each other." According to Poindexter, investigators have interviewed two South Carolina inmates regarding the case involving Vick's Virginia property. Poindexter also said of Thursday's involvement by federal authorities, "The jurisdictional basis is some sort of interstate violation." [...] Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said he has heard from about a half-dozen people claiming to have information about Vick's involvement in dog fighting, but he does not know if their claims have proven to be reliable. In a letter, an inmate in a South Carolina prison claimed that he attended dog fights where Vick also was in attendance and saw Vick bet large amounts of money. Another informant provided street names of dog fighters from elsewhere in Virginia. A deputy sheriff in the county, W.R. Brinkman, is on the road investigating the claims, Poindexter said, noting that the investigation is the job of the sheriff. Poindexter said a search warrant issued May 23 for the massive home Vick owns in the county still has not been executed because he wants to make certain that any search does not jeopardize the investigation. Several years ago, another dog fighting case in the county was thrown out of court because of an illegal search, he said. The search warrant was issued after an informant told Brinkman there were as many as 30 dogs carcasses buried on the property, and Poindexter said he is confident that evidence already seized from the home would be enough to hand down indictments. He said any attempt to remove the carcasses would also be incriminating. When charges will be sought and who will face them remains to be seen, he said, noting that unless a special grand jury is called, the county grand jury is scheduled to meet next on July 24. The county has never had a special grand jury called. The case began April 25 when police conducting a drug investigation raided the house Vick owns and found 66 dogs, 55 of them pit bulls. They also found items associated with dog fighting, including a "pry bar" used to pry apart a dog's jaws. Dog fighting is a felony in Virginia. Vick, a registered dog breeder, has blamed relatives for taking advantage of his generosity and insisted he's rarely at the house. He has since put the home on the market and sold it in a day, although the sale has not yet been completed. A store-bought "For Sale by Owner" sign once put up in the front yard of the two-story, painted brick home is no longer in the yard [...] Two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation have reported they believe there is sufficient evidence to indict Michael Vick in connection with a suspected dog-fighting ring that was run on property the Falcons quarterback owned in Virginia. The sources, however, cautioned this week that, based on the current evidence, it might be difficult to successfully prosecute Vick, who has denied knowledge of dog fighting at the property in Surry County. "There is probably enough there to bring a bill [of indictment]," said one source, "But how some of [the evidence] would play out at trial, or if it even reached a trial ... I just don't know. These kinds of prosecutions are tough". On Wednesday, Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter told ESPN that he recently received a call from a person whom he deemed credible, and that the informant gave him information regarding the ongoing investigation. Television station WAVY of Portsmouth, Va., reported Wednesday that informants have come forward who have said that they can link Vick to dog-fighting. "We have people who are volunteering to make those allegations," said Poindexter. Asked if there was evidence that placed Vick at dog fights, Poindexter said, "Yes." One source acknowledged that at least one federal agency beyond the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was represented at a recent meeting with local investigators, has taken "a pretty serious interest" in the investigation in recent days. One of the sources has first-hand knowledge of the evidence that was presented May 21 during a two-hour meeting that included Poindexter and a representative from the USDA. The other was frequently apprised of what is included in the evidence, but has not yet directly reviewed it. Both sources were reportedly reluctant to discuss the evidence in detail. But one said that, beyond forensic evidence and also the dog-training paraphernalia that has been shown in various television reports, there are also "some documents" that suggest dog-fighting was taking place. According to reports, Poindexter could convene a special grand jury to consider the case. The regular grand jury is not scheduled to meet until July 24, according to Surry County clerk of courts Gail P. Clayton. The grand jury meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month, beginning in January. The Journal-Constitution reported that two people claiming to have information that might aid the investigation have contacted law enforcement authorities, and that Poindexter was performing due diligence on the background of one of the two. Both of the sources who spoke to ESPN.com reportedly said claims that people have possible information that might strengthen the case is consistent with their understanding of the progress being made.Those people, their credibility and the value of the information that they claim to have are being scrutinized. "It would help [the case], obviously, if someone stepped up with something concrete," one source said. "A figure in a shadow, with a Darth Vader-type voice, that's fine, but sooner or later someone has to put their hand on a Bible in front of a jury." ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Sunday interviewed a confidential informant, speaking on camera with his face hidden and his voice disguised, who alleged Vick is a "heavyweight" in dog-fighting circles. He claimed that Vick owned and fought dogs and bet heavily on them. The pace of the investigation and the timing of any possible indictment against the embattled Vick, who is playing under a $130 million contract and is the face of Atlanta's franchise, could be critical to his plans for the 2007 season and to any potential sanctions by the NFL. If a grand jury in Surry County does not meet until late July, it would be right about the time Vick and the Falcons are to report to training camp.There are, some observers feel, enough potential maneuvers to perhaps delay a trial -- if the case reaches that point -- until after the season. Such trials have typically lasted eight months or more. The NFL, which has offered the services of its security department to assist local authorities in the investigation, continues to closely monitor the proceedings. It is not known if commissioner Roger Goodell would consider sanctions against Vick if he is merely indicted. Goodell emphasized last week, at the NFL's spring meeting in Nashville, that the recent severe suspensions of Tennessee cornerback Pacman Jones and Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Henry were based in part on their status as repeat offenders of the league's personal conduct policy. [...] An investigator close to the Surry case says investigators decided to hold off on the search because they wanted to throw all their resources towards interviewing an informant. Investigators are meeting with that informant on Wednesday. It is believed the individual may have information on who was present during the alleged dog fights. Once that interview is complete, they again may ask to search the property, though there are no such plans right now. Tuesday the Commonwealth's Attorney said he had problems with the wording of the original search warrant. “The sheriff and I didn't like the language of the affidavit,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Poindexter. In the search warrant, investigators said reliable sources knew about seven pit bulls being killed two days before the raid. They also had information about 30 dogs reportedly buried in the backyard. According to dog fighting investigator John Goodwin, who is not working on this case, Surry County investigators likely have a number of witnesses. Goodwin says it is likely in the best interest of investigators to search the property. He says the cadavers could prove to be smoking guns. [...] Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter has rejected a warrant to look for remains of pit bull dogs on the Surry County property that used to be owned by Michael Vick. Poindexter says he and the sheriff "did not like the language" of the search warrant approved by a state magistrate. So they will not go forward with the search, which was requested by a sheriff's office investigator. According to the search warrant, an informant told authorities that seven dogs were destroyed and buried on the property April 23rd, two days before Surry County initially raided the property on Moonlight Road. It goes on to say as many as 30 dog carcasses might be buried on the property. So far, investigators have not said if the search is complete or what, if anything, they found. The search warrant calls for a search of property behind the main house on Moonlight Road, not the house itself. According to the warrant, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General requested approval to go into a building on the backside of the property to pull up floor boards and wall boards looking for signs of blood. The USDA also wanted to search for items that may have been used to bury animal bodies. Police raided the rural home on April 25 during a drug investigation. 66 dogs, 55 of them pit bulls, and equipment that could be associated with dog fighting, were removed from the property. Vick has said he let his cousin, Davon Boddie, live there and that he didn't know a large kennel on the property could be involved in criminal activity. Over the weekend on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," an informant characterized by police as credible, said Vick attended a dog fight in 2000 and he called Vick "one of the heavyweights" in the sport of dog fighting. Dog fighting is a felony in Virginia. No charges have been placed in the case and the Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney has said he will not try the case in the media. Vick recently sold the property. The buyer's name hasn't been revealed. Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, meantime, has sent a letter to the NFL offering animal sensitivity training for the league's players and staff. Dan Shannon, PETA's assistant director, told WVEC.com Tuesday, "We haven't received a response from the NFL, but with the long weekend and so much going on with this case, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes the NFL a little while to respond." No charges have been filed in the case yet, but Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter has publicly said he expects this case to result in charges. Federal investigators are not saying what their involvement is in the case. [...] Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was at a dog fight in 2000 and is "one of the heavyweights" in the sport, ESPN reported. The network Sunday cited a police informant whom a dog-fighting investigator called "extremely reliable." "That's who bets a large dollar," the informant said on the show "Outside the Lines." "And they have the money to bet large money. As I'm talking about large money, 30 to 40 thousand, even higher. He's one of the heavyweights." When asked how he knows Vick bets that amount, the informant said, "because I've seen it." The informant said his dog beat Vick's dog in 2000, the year before Vick was chosen by the Falcons with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Investigator David Hunt said information from the informant has "resulted in the arrest of several individuals over the past few years, numerous search warrants, as well as convictions." Surry County (Va.) Commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter said Friday he is confident charges will be brought in the investigation of a possible dog-fighting operation at a house then owned by Vick. Dog fighting is a felony in Virginia. [...] Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said Wednesday that investigators still lack solid evidence linking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick - or anybody, for that matter - to dog fighting. Last month, 66 dogs - most of which were pit bulls - were taken from a Surry County home owned by Vick. Officials, working on a search warrant, found exercise equipment, supplements used to build strength in dogs, and blood spatters on a wall, according to court documents. But that's not enough, Poindexter said. "I know everybody is saying, 'When are those fools in Surry County going to get up off their butts and do something?' " Poindexter said. "But what are we going to do?" He said there are no eyewitnesses to say there was dog fighting at the property. Until the search was conducted, the house was occupied by Vick's cousin, and Vick has said he was rarely there. Vick, a Newport News native and star player at Virginia Tech, has since sold the home on rural Moonlight Road for about half of its market value. The 66 dogs are being housed in kennels in four counties, with Surry County taxpayers paying up to $25,000 for their care until the case is over. Until January this year, there was a kennel license for 40 to 50 dogs at the property. Investigators have been unable to locate the man, Tony Taylor, whose name appeared on the license, Poindexter said. Taylor declined to comment last week when he returned a call from The Virginian-Pilot. He hung up when Vick's name was mentioned. Poindexter, commonwealth's attorney in Surry County for 12 years, said he's never met Vick but that from everything he's heard, Vick is a nice guy. Mark Kumpf, a dog fighting expert who is helping investigators on the case, disagreed with Poindexter about the strength of the evidence. "There is more evidence there than has been used to convict several other people in Virginia," he said Wednesday, after he was told of Poindexter's comments. Some of the items could be used for legal purposes, he said, but taken in totality, they become more suspect. "Treadmills, bloody carpet, scarred dogs, bite sticks: That is not consistent with legitimate competition," he said. Kumpf, a former animal control officer in Norfolk and Newport News who now works in Ohio, testified as an expert witness in a dog fighting trial in Richmond earlier this year that ended in a conviction and recommended a four-year prison sentence for the defendant, Stacey Miller. Having no eye witnesses is not unusual in dog fighting prosecutions, Kumpf said. Most of the cases rely heavily on circumstantial evidence because the secretive nature of the crime makes catching anyone in the act difficult, he said. Dog fighting is a felony in 48 states, and transporting dogs across state lines for fighting also is a felony. Meanwhile, the dogs are spread out in municipal pounds from Chesapeake to Dinwiddie County, Surry County Board of Supervisors Chairman John M. Seward said. The dogs are being exercised and well cared for, said Harry White, chief animal control officer in Suffolk, where five of the dogs are being held. Fourteen of the dogs are in Surry, said animal control officer James Smith, and even when they were first brought in, they were healthy and appeared well cared for. Poindexter said that is true of most of the dogs. "There was one dog that was scarred," he said, "and another dog was taken to the vet immediately because of a birth defect." Isle of Wight County, at Surry's border, has none of the Surry pit bulls, said Chief Ed Sullivan, with animal control. But that doesn't stop the phone from ringing, he said. "We've gotten several phone calls," he said. "I assume the calls came from criminal types who wanted the dogs for fighting, but we weren't even asked to take any of them." The dogs, Poindexter said, will be kept until the investigation is complete. After that, they could be euthanized. The decision, ultimately, will have to be made, said John Goodwin, deputy manager of dog fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States. If the animals have been used for fighting, he said, there's no hope for rehabilitation. But Poindexter said no decision has been made about the animals' future. "I'm concerned about the dogs, and I'm concerned about having to euthanize the animals," he said. "If a decision had been made, who would have made it? Not me." Poindexter said he is being "very, very careful" with this case because another fighting situation a few years ago taught him a lesson. "We lost that one because of an illegal search, a Fourth Amendment violation," Poin-dexter said. "Until this case is defined, until the results are reliable, until we have sufficient evidence, the only sense of urgency I have is the fate of those dogs." [...] Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis defended Michael Vick by ridiculing the notion that dog fighting is considered a crime. Portis said that if the Atlanta Falcons quarterback is charged and convicted of being involved in a dog fighting operation, then authorities would be "putting him behind bars for no reason." Portis said if Vick was involved in dog fighting, it's his business. He claimed that where he grew up in Mississippi, a lot of back roads led to dog fights. He said the difference is those fights didn't have big names like Michael Vick involved. Hours after making light of the possible crime, Portis issued a statement through the Redskins on Monday night. "In the recent interview I gave concerning dog fighting, I want to make it clear I do not take part in dog fighting or condone dog fighting in any manner," the statement said. Vick has been under investigation since April 25 when police conducting a drug investigation raided the house owned by the quarterback in rural Surry County and found dozens of dogs. They also found items associated with dog fighting, including a "pry bar" used to pry apart a dog's jaws. No charges have been filed.

...Continued from posts above.

Pet-Abuse.com wrote:

The Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force, which is investigating dogfighting at a property that was owned by Michael Vick, reportedly does not have a videotape of the Falcons quarterback at a dogfight. Kathy Strouse, the lead investigator, said informants indicated that a tape exists of Vick at a dogfight. "Let's be very accurate here, because some of the reports out there are not accurate," Strouse said on Tuesday. "We have information from informants that a tape exists of a dogfight and that Michael Vick is present. Whether that tape exists, we do not know that it exists." Strouse, the animal-control coordinator for Chesapeake, Va., noted that the Humane Society of the United States offers rewards of $2,500 for evidence that leads to the prosecution and conviction of animal cruelty. Gerald Poindexter, the commonwealth's attorney in Surry County, said a meeting was set for Monday to review evidence in the case. As of Wednesday morning, Strouse had not been contacted but was expecting an invitation. "We have not handed Mr. Poindexter all of the evidence, but we're ready to lay it out for him," Strouse said. Strouse has been qualified as an expert witness in a previous dogfighting case in Virginia. Strouse would not buy the contention that the evidence seized — which included nearly 70 dogs, four treadmills and documents — from the property owned by Vick was evidence of a kennel. "Absolutely not," Strouse said. "Not when you find the blood-stained pit." VicksK9Kennels.com, a Web site that advocates the breeding of dogs, has been linked to one of Vick's companies, MV7, LLC. "Let me be very, very clear: There's no doubt in my mind that this was a dogfighting operation," Strouse said, "based not only on what we found at the property but from intelligence, documentation and other evidence we've gathered." Strouse would not deny or confirm whether the task force had any evidence directly tying Vick to dogfighting. "That's part of the investigation," Strouse said. Strouse assisted in the dog investigation of the Benjamin Butts case in Surry County in 2000. A total of 33 dogs were removed and later returned after he was not prosecuted. Butts died Feb. 17. "One of the treadmills looks identical to one we have pictures of from the Butts case," Strouse said. "One of our officers identified one of the dogs as looking very similar to one of the dogs from the Butts case." Virginia officials believe the two operations are linked. "We've gathered some information from some informants that would indicate that," Strouse said. Virginia is a hotbed for dogfighting. There have been recent convictions in Richmond, Chesapeake and Spotsylvania. The most notorious Virginia case was of "Fat" Bill Reynolds, publisher of a dogfighting magazine, who spent 30 months in prison on federal charges of sending images of pit-bull fights across state lines. "We think that it's very prevalent. That's why the task force has been formed, because it's a serious problem in Virginia," Strouse said. "The rural localities don't have the resources to work one of these cases on their own. We provide investigators, housing for the dogs and experts to testify." [...] Surry County, Virginia Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter will meet with Sheriff Harold Brown and investigators Monday to review evidence of dog-fighting discovered at a property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Poindexter reportedly said that he was recently contacted by Brown to schedule a meeting, the first time he had been approached by investigators to review evidence. Police initially went to the property owned by Vick on April 25 in a drug investigation involving Vick's cousin. Evidence of dog-fighting, including nearly 70 dogs, mostly pit bulls, was collected over several days. Charges have yet to be filed. A grand jury convenes in Surry County on Tuesday. However, Poindexter said it was unlikely a review of the evidence would be completed in time to submit it to the grand jury at that time. Dog-fighting is a felony in Virginia and is punishable by up to five years in prison. In regard to Vick, at this point he is being viewed as nothing more than the property owner unless evidence reveals that he could be involved in illegal activity, Poindexter said. Poindexter would not say if he expected charges to be brought. Without reviewing the evidence, Poindexter declined to say if Vick was a focus of the investigation. "I'm not going to be a party to a witch hunt," Poindexter said. "This [process] will not be driven by people who hate Michael Vick, love Michael Vick or people who love animals." Vick, at an event preceding the NFL draft April 28-29, blamed family members for the current situation and said that he never visited the property. Poindexter said there is evidence to suggest that Vick has been at the property several times. The investigation of Vick's property, alleged dog-fighting and the collection of evidence have been handled by local authorities. The dogs are being kept at animal-control shelters throughout the region. There were other people who lived at the property, either full time or part time. Vick also hired people to tend to the property, and to the dogs, for which a current kennel license exists. A company owned by Vick has a Web site that advertises the sale of pit bulls and presa canarios. [...] Mary Kay Mallonee, a reporter for the television station WAVY, has been investigating the Michael Vick dog-fighting story, and in a radio interview yesterday, she described Vick's property as "a huge operation" where investigators found blood-soaked carpeting and wounded dogs. 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.'" 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. [...] Prosecutors say that Vick's claims about never visiting the home and being completely unaware of what was happening at the Surry County home are simply not true. Additionally, WAVY searched their archive for chopper footage of back when the Vick home was being built in 2003, when Vick had his double-wide trailer hauled away and a 4700 square foot home built. Their footage clearly shows the same three outbuildings used to contain some of the the dogs, complete with areas for training, and evidence of dogs at the property. Interviews with a construction worker who helped build the house in 2003 confirmed not only that Vick was there routinely while the house was being built, but also that there were at least 40 dogs on the property, as well as the dog-fighting equipment police seized. According to the Commonwealth Attorney, there is no question that Vick visits the Surry property often. Investigators also found the skeletal remains of at least one dog on the Surry County property, estimated to have been there for approximately two years. [...] Falcons quarterback Michael Vick had a 20-minute conversation with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York on Saturday at which a series of off-field incidents were discussed. Vick admitted to the meeting on Saturday while he was in New York for the NFL draft. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the team would adhere to Goodell's new, strict player code of conduct and that he hopes Vick understands the seriousness of the heightened attention the league is paying to off-field behavior. "I know the commissioner is aware of everything going on with players in the NFL, and obviously he's aware of any incidents with Michael and any other players," Blank said Sunday. "He knows I believe strongly in his code of conduct. I expect us to fully enforce it here and I expect him to fully enforce it with our players. Hopefully, Michael understands that as well." Goodell was very direct about the behavior he expects out of Vick, who last week missed a flight for an award ceremony in front of members of Congress and is having a property he owns in Virginia investigated for a possible dog-fighting ring. Vick's meeting with Goodell was not scheduled but took place because Vick was one of three former Virginia Tech players who took part in a pre-draft ceremony honoring Virginia Tech, site of this month's tragic shooting. Goodell and Vick did not speak solely about Vick's tumultuous offseason. In an interview with ESPN, Vick reiterated what he has already told the Journal-Constitution. He acknowledged the meeting with Goodell and said he needed to be more responsible for his actions and the people with whom he associates. "After what happened Friday, and then what happened on Monday, 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. ... I'm taking it upon myself and giving everybody my word that things are going to get changed around. Things are going to get turned around. I have a game plan for it. ... The company I keep, a lot of things gotta change, and I mean that from the heart." Goodell has already suspended Tennessee's Pacman Jones and Cincinnati's Chris Henry for games next season after off-the-field issues. [...] Michael Vick blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity after a police raid found evidence of dog fighting on property he owns in Virginia. An animal-rights group scoffed at that explanation, saying it's long suspected the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was involved in the fight-to-the-death activity. Embroiled in another embarrassing — and perhaps criminal — situation, Vick traveled to New York on Friday to take part in activities leading up to the NFL Draft. Appearing at a news conference to announce his participation in the NFL Quarterback Challenge, Vick described himself as an unwitting victim of relatives living on his property in Smithfield, Va. "I'm never at the house," Vick said, according to ajc.com. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing." Police conducting a drug investigation raided the Vick-owned house and found dozens of dogs, some injured and emaciated. Investigators also discovered items associated with dog fighting. Vick claimed he knew nothing about it. "It's unfortunate I have to take the heat," he said. "If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on. It's a call for me to really tighten down on who I'm trying to take care of. When it all boils down, people will try to take advantage of you and leave you out to dry. Lesson learned for me." John Goodwin, who handles dog-fighting issues for the Humane Society of America, was skeptical that Vick was unaware of such a large operation — especially when police were led to the property as part of a drug investigation after arresting the quarterback's 26-year-old cousin, Davon Boddie. Goodwin said authorities found 66 dogs on the property, mostly pit bulls who appeared to be involved in organized fighting. He estimated it would cost up to $100 a day just to feed that number of animals, not to mention other hefty expenses. "Who's paying to feed all those dogs?" Goodwin asked. "Who has the money to feed 66 pit bulls that's in some way, shape or form related to that property?" He said the Humane Society has heard for several years that Vick was personally involved in the brutal, clandestine activity, which is banned nationwide and a felony in 48 states, including Virginia and Georgia. A conviction in Virginia carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $2,500 fine. "We get a lot of calls, and people were always kind of kicking his name around," Goodwin said. "But it was always difficult to put together a complete case on the guy. The word is that he has multiple layers of protection. When the search warrant was executed and they found all the things they found, it really came as no surprise." Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team would not have a comment until it got more details on the investigation. Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, did not return a telephone message seeking comment for the second day in a row. "The search warrant was issued in a matter unrelated to the property owner, Mr. Michael Vick," said Surry County Sheriff Harold D. Brown. Goodwin, who has worked with authorities on numerous dog-fighting cases, said he was told that officers also found bloody strips of carpeting, commonly used in dog-fighting pits, and "breaking sticks" — hammer-like devices used to pry open an animal's jaw after a fight. The NFL said it is looking into the matter. Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it clear he intends to crack down on players involved in off-the-field misconduct. Goodell might be swayed by a string of embarrassing incidents involving Vick, starting with 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 loss. 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 through no fault of his own, but didn't turn up for a later flight. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 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." Goodwin said the Humane Society would take a similar stand if criminal charges were filed against Vick. While the quarterback insisted he was not involved in dog fighting, he has shown an interest in breeding pit bulls. In a 2001 profile by The Sporting News, he revealed having a pit bull that already had produced one litter and said he was trying to start a breeding kennel. "There's more to me than people might think," he said at the time. [...] NFL star Michael Vick blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity after a police raid found evidence of dog fighting at property he owns in Surry County. "I'm never at the house," Vick said at a New York news conference Friday to announce his participation in the NFL Quarterback Challenge. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing." Authorities found a room resembling one used in dog fighting when they searched the home this week, an investigator on the case said. Blood covered areas of the room, said Kathy Strouse, of the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force. Authorities removed the last of 66 dogs Friday from the home about 10 miles from Smithfield, where Vick's cousin Davon Boddie lives. Vick owns the 15-acre property. A sheriff's deputy said Thursday that the former Virginia Tech star was not the focus of the probe. The animals removed include about 54 pit bulls, many of them badly scarred, said Strouse, animal control coordinator for Chesapeake. The pit bulls likely will be euthanized if a judge rules they should not go back to their owners, she said. The dogs are conditioned to be too violent with other dogs, making it "completely irresponsible to put them back into the community," she said. A custody hearing must be held for the dogs within 10 days but one had not been scheduled in court by early Friday afternoon. Ownership of the animals is still in dispute, Strouse said. Some of the dogs needed care for wounds and lacked adequate water or shelter, but most were in "fairly good weight," Strouse said. They are being held at various shelters, she said. Police also found a cache of suspected dog-fighting items, including "performance- enhancing pharmaceuticals," treadmills to condition the animals and papers that documented involvement in animal fighting, according to the Animal Fighting Task Force. Boddie gave the Surry County address as his home when he was arrested April 20 in Hampton on suspicion of marijuana possession with the intent to distribute. Police got a search warrant and went through the house Wednesday looking for drugs and drug paraphernalia. That's when officers found evidence of dog fighting, according to a subsequent search warrant filed in Surry County Circuit Court. Organized dog fighting is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine. Vick insisted Friday that he knew nothing of what was happening at the home. "It's unfortunate I have to take the heat," the Newport News native said. " It's a call for me to really tighten down on who I'm trying to take care of.... Lesson learned for me." [...] The Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force (VAFTF) responded to assist Virginia State Police and Drug Task Force officers upon the execution of a search warrant on April 25, 2007 at the Smithfield, Virginia property of Michael Vick. Evidence seized included: • a number of injured American Pit Bull Terrier dogs • animal fighting paraphernalia • animal training and breeding equipment including a "rape stand," a device in which a female dog who is too aggressive to submit to males for breeding is strapped down to an elevated stand while her head is held in place by a restraint • a “break” or “parting” stick used to pry open fighting dogs’ mouths during fights • treadmills and “slat mills” used to condition dogs out of public view • assorted paperwork documenting involvement in animal fighting ventures • performance enhancing pharmaceuticals commonly used to increase the fighting potential in dogs trained for fighting, and to keep injured dogs fighting longer The investigation is ongoing and additional evidence is being collected. The property, owned by Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick, has been characterized as a professional level animal fighting production facility. Sources close the investigation identified training equipment that has been seen before in other Virginia dog fighting investigations. VAFTF members continue to receive information regarding the alleged animal fighting operations with tips coming in daily. Links to other known participants in the animal fighting underground have been alleged and investigators will continue to follow these leads as the case develops. The VAFTF was organized by the Virginia Animal Control Association in response to the emergence of major dog fighting operations throughout the Commonwealth. In cooperation with the Attorney General's Office, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies and participating jurisdictions, the task force was formed to respond and investigate major cases such as this. Kathy Strouse, VAFTF Lead Investigator and Chesapeake Animal Control Coordinator, was on the scene as part of a multi-jurisdictional response to this case. “Large scale animal fighting operations such as this pose a serious threat to public safety and to animal welfare. It is critical that all those responsible be held accountable, so that these criminal ventures do not continue to proliferate in Virginia’s communities.” Strouse has assisted in the investigation of several major dog fighting cases including the Benjamin Butts case, also in Surry County. She has served as a resource for the Virginia Legislature on animal fighting legislation and is a Bloodsports Investigations Instructor for the National Animal Control Association Academy. Recognized as an expert in dogfighting and animal cruelty cases, Strouse's experience with these cases will be a crucial part of any potential criminal charges that may be sought. Animal Control Officers from Surry County, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight County and Southampton County all responded at the request of Drug Task Force investigators. Many Hampton Roads area Animal Control agencies will be assisting with various aspects of the case as dogs are removed from the property pending legal action. [...] The State Police relayed what they found Wednesday to county Animal Control Officer James Smith, who listed the evidence for a magistrate to issue a search warrant for evidence of dog fighting, including: * At least four treadmills or slat mills for conditioning. * A scale with a hook on it to weigh dogs, which are often fought at an agreed-upon weight. * Vitamins, dietary and red blood cell supplements to enhance the dogs' condition. * A diuretic to stimulate urination after a fight. * Drugs and antibiotics to treat wounds. Smith wrote that the State Police found about 30 "pit bull type" dogs tied to heavy chains attached to car axles buried in the ground. The setup allowed the animals to come close to one another without touching. Three dogs were heavily scarred to the face, head, ears, chest and front legs, he added. Between 50 and 65 pit bulls were found at the home, said State Police 1st Sgt. Steven D. Tate. A locked gate kept visitors far from the front door. Virginia Beach lawyer Lawrence H. Woodward Jr. said he was representing Vick in the matter but declined to comment. Atlanta Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts also said the team had no comment. [...] Early reports indicate as many as 70 dogs on the property, including 60 pit bulls with wounds that appear to be consistent with dog-fighting. Authorities have allegedly uncovered extensive dog-fighting paraphernalia, including rape stands (used to allow fighting dogs to breed while preventing them from attacking each other), equipment used to build strength and endurance in fighting dogs, and controlled substances frequently used in dog-fighting. A drug investigation involving Vick's nephew, who lives at the home, led authorities to the residence, state police spokesman Sgt. D.S. Carr told the Virginia-Pilot newspaper. According to WAVY-TV, a search warrant was granted in Surry County Circuit Court. A state task force went to the property on Moonlight Road in Smithfield, Va. searching for a person believed to be on the property, but not Vick. According to the reports, Vick does not live at the property. While investigators were on the scene, they discovered three buildings that housed several barking dogs. Surry County Administrator Tyrone Franklin told television station FOX 43 that the property "does give the appearance of some activity, illegal activity." The ABC news affiliate in Norfolk, Va., WVEC, reported Thursday morning that State Police officers found as many as 50 dogs "suffering from neglect" at the home. According to WVEC.com, "Officers from the Meherrin Drug Task Force also were on the scene. It's a multi-jurisdictional task force to investigate major drug trafficking."

That's just sick. Dog fighting is just sick. It should be a high offense felony.